NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Deb Platts says that while Alfred still hasn’t made landfall, the community is seeing rising winds, damaging surf, and rain – which could amount to 700mm by the time the storm passes.

There are 23 watch and act and prepare to evacuate warnings in northern NSW at the moment, covering a lot of low-lying areas.

“We’re asking these people – there’s 10,000 dwellings in these areas – to really start to prepare and to evacuate,” Platts told Today.

“We need people to evacuate before the winds commence. It’ll be too late after the winds really pick up.”

There are 14 evacuation centres open across the Northern Rivers, Byron Bay, and Tweed regions.

“What concerns us is that the community are not prepared,” Platts said.

“So we are really urging people, check on your neighbours, have a plan, make sure that you are able to relocate or evacuate as soon as you possibly can. And do not wait for the winds to pick up again.”