Prepare to evacuate alerts have been issued across the Northern Rivers including:
New Brighton, South Beach Road, Harbour Way and Reflections Massy Green Holiday Park, Belongil, South Golden Beach, Pottsville, Ballina CBD and surrounds, Hastings Point, Kingscliff Holiday Park and properties along Cudgen Creek, Lower Uki and surrounds, Fingal Head, The Flat, Kyogle and surrounds, Kingscliff Holiday Park and properties along Cudgen Creek, Lower Uki and surrounds, Kyogle North, Chinderah and surrounds.
‘There are around 10,000 properties in Prepare to Evacuate area,’ an SES spokesperson told The Echo.
‘We advise people to take action today to prepare for the cyclone.’
‘Talk to family and friends to decide so you can decide the best place to stay during the cyclone and so that they know where you are staying.
‘Don’t wait until the cyclone is upon us to take action as roads may be blocked by fallen trees and powerlines and once heavy rainfall occurs roads may be blocked,’ said the SES spokesperson.
The SES have stated that you should look to evacuate to your local evacuation centre. These change as events change. The current centres are as listed below:
Opening at 7am on 6 March 2025
| Locations | Address | Animals Allowed? |
|---|---|---|
| Tyalgum Community Hall | Coolman St, Tyalgum NSW 2484 | Yes – domestic only |
| Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School | 86 Mahers Lane, Terranora NSW 2486 | Agriculture plot at rear of school |
| Mullumbimby RSL | 58 Dalley St, Mullumbimby NSW 2482 | Yes – Companion animals |
| Kingscliff TAFE | 806 Cudgen Road, Kingscliff NSW 2487 | Yes – small to large capacity |
| Murwillumbah TAFE | 146 Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah NSW 2484 | Yes – Small to medium only |
| Kyogle Memorial Hall | Stratheden Street, Kyogle NSW 2474 | Yes – small/medium domestic animals |
| Casino Showground | Summerland Way, Casino NSW 2470 | Yes |
| Southern Cross University | Military Road, East Lismore NSW 2480 | Yes – small animals. large at large animals at Lismore Showground |
| Evans Head RSL | 11-13 McDonald Place, Evans Head NSW 2473 | N/A |
| Burringbar Districts Sports Club | 6 Fourth Ave, Burringbar NSW 2483 | Yes – domestic animals in outdoor undercover area, tied to fence |
| Uki Hall | 1462 Kyogle Rd, Uki NSW 2484 | No |
| Coraki Public School | 50 Adams St, Coraki NSW 2471 | N/A |
| Asltonville High School | 21 Cawley Cl, Alstonville NSW 2477 | N/A |
| Ocean Shores Country Club | 113A Orana Rd, Ocean Shores | Yes – companion animals. Larger animals on back deck |
| Ballina Southern Cross Public School | 2-40 Chickiba Dr, East Ballina | Yes – domestic and large animals |
Byron Bay added
Byron Bay has now been added with an evacuation centre announced at the Cavanbah Centre, 249 Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481.
‘The website is continuing to be updated throughout the siutation,’ said a spokesperson for the SES.
To check the latest evacuation centres see: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/during-an-emergency/evacuation-centres.
Evacuate when instructed by SES
During this weather event you should monitor the situation and prepare to evacuate so that you can safely evacuate when instructed to do so by NSW SES. Wherever possible, you should prepare to stay with family or friends, or make other accommodation arrangements.
If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services. It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you.
What are we expecting?
Based on the predictions from the Bureau of Meteorology, rainfall associated with Tropical
Cyclone Alfred may cause rapid river rises and extensive flooding along NSW coastal rivers.
Heavy and locally intense rainfall is forecast from Wednesday into the weekend over Northern NSW. Flash flooding is possible. High tides and large waves are expected to increase the flood risk and impacts in low lying coastal areas.
This event may change quickly. NSW SES will monitor the situation and update warnings if the situation changes.
What you need to do:
If you have a Home or Business Emergency Plan, follow it. Otherwise, have a conversation
and plan for what you will do and take with you if you need to evacuate.
Have your mobile phone close and pack your charger, battery-powered radio, medicine, rain gear, warm clothes, blankets, baby and pet items, water, food, torch, something to attract attention, and valuables like photos and insurance or banking records.
Wear enclosed shoes and pack warm clothes for at least three days to manage
unseasonably cool conditions.
Check your vehicle fuel levels and towed equipment (e.g., horse floats, trailers) to ensure you can safely evacuate. Arrange to evacuate to the home of family or friends who are in a safe location away from present and potential flooding. Consider how to transport your pet(s) and companion animals.
Lift important belongings up onto tables, beds, benches, and shelves above predicted flood
levels.
Collect or create sandbags by filling pillowcases or shopping bags with sand and place them around doorways and in toilets and over drains to prevent rising sewage. Relocate waste containers, chemicals, and poisons well above flood level.
Investigate whether there are other hazards (e.g., severe storms, landslip, flash floods) that will impact your ability to evacuate.
Avoid storm drains and pipes, ditches, ravines, creeks, and rivers.
Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in floodwater – it is dangerous, toxic, and may void your car insurance. If it’s flooded, forget it. Fines apply.
Obey all signs about road closures and instructions from emergency services.
People working or camping along the river should monitor river heights and be prepared to
relocate to higher ground.
For more information:
Listen to your local ABC radio station which can be found at reception.abc.net.au
Download the Hazards Near Me app and set your watch zones to get warning information
for your areas.
Members of the public seeking emergency assistance during a flood or storm should call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500, or visit their website www.ses.nsw.gov.au.
NSW Police remind people in flood affected areas to register their movements using the Register, Find, Reunite website – https://www.redcross.org.au/emergencies/about-register-find-reunite/ – which is a National system managed and operated by Australian Red Cross.
It is a service which registers, finds and reunites family, friends and loved ones after an Emergency. It allows people to:
- Register to let people know they are safe
- Find people who may be affected by an Emergency and know they are safe
- Reunite through a matching process which enables Police, with consent, to share details of family and friends with each other.
For the latest weather warnings, please visit the Bureau of Meteorology website: http://www.bom.gov.au/.
In life-threatening situations and emergencies, the public are advised to contact Triple Zero (000).
Follow us on social media @NSWSES or visit our website at www.ses.nsw.gov.au
Check road closures at www.livetraffic.com.au or 132 701 or your local Council.
Check disruptions to public transport at www.transportnsw.info/alerts or call the TransportInfoline on 131 500
For information on temporary school closures in your area, check: www.education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/school-operational-status
If you evacuate register at Register.Find.Reunite https://register.redcross.org.au/ so that
your friends, family and emergency services can be informed that you are safe.
For emergency assistance during a flood, storm or tsunami, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
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