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Flooding could isolate communities for weeks after huge downpours caused widespread flash flooding in Queensland and NSW, authorities say.
A whopping 210mm of rain drenched Currarong in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday, a small coastal fishing and tourist village south of Wollongong.
The rainfall is expected to ease but authorities are warning of long-term isolation for residents in western NSW.
“Communities along the Paroo and Warrego Rivers … you could actually face up to six weeks of isolation,” NSW State Emergency Service deputy commissioner Deb Platz told reporters on Sunday.
“So we need you now to start preparing for that isolation.”
Helicopters, high-clearance vehicles and volunteers have been pre-positioned to rescue and resupply those cut off but residents have been told to be on high alert.
“Once this system passes another system is expected to come into NSW on Wednesday,” Platz said.
“This system will also bring significant rain, in particular to the northeast part and northern Mid North Coast of NSW.”
There has been 1,700 calls for help across NSW in 24 hours, including 19 for water rescues.
Towns are isolated, roads closed and hardship assistance has been activated after record rainfall. Source: AAP / Stephen Cowley
Authorities are still searching for an elderly man who was swept away in floodwaters that isolated 22 campers on the Mid North Coast.
The man was attempting to drive across a flooded causeway at Bretti, about 100km west of Taree, late on Saturday night after the Barnard River broke its banks.
His SUV, which was towing a caravan, was swept into the floodwaters and neither the driver or car have been found.
Platz said the missing man was trying to leave a campground where about 22 people were stranded.
With the water receding, the encircled campers were expected to be rescued on Sunday as the search for the driver continues.
Senior meteorologist Jonathan How said the flooding risk was not over despite clouds clearing for most of eastern Queensland and NSW.
“That water will take quite some time to flow through so we are expecting those flood warnings to persist,” the Bureau of Meteorology forecaster said.
Dozens of outback Queenslanders were flown to safety on Saturday as floodwaters took over their towns and properties.
Central Queensland’s Stonehenge and Windorah have been hit hard after some areas recorded almost double their average yearly rainfall, triggering flooding not seen since 1974.
Personal hardship assistance has been activated, with concessional loans and freight subsidies to help primary producers in a string of western Queensland communities.
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