HUNDREDS FACE ANXIOUS WAIT
FEARS FOR SAFETY OF SIX PEOPLE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO BE REVEALED TODAY BARKLY BRACES FOR FLOODING
THE Barkly region is bracing for potential flooding as the aftermath of Severe Tropical Cyclone Trevor reverberates through the mainland today.
Evacuations began yesterday in the Barkly as the cyclone system moved south west, with up 350mm of rain forecast to hit isolated parts of the region.
NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services southern regional controller Michael Hebb said 33 people had been evacuated from outstations outside Tennant Creek.
The evacuees, who arrived in Tennant Creek yesterday from the remote community of Wagyala, are sheltering in an emergency shelter at the Tennant Creek High School.
The cyclone shelter opened yesterday morning with a capacity for 120 people.
Across the region more broadly, as the cyclone system today weakens below cyclone intensity into a rain depression, rainfalls between 100 to 200mm are expected before the weather system deviates south east towards the Queensland border.
Mr Hebb said there is a concern flash flooding could arise across the region because of the abnormally hard grounds of the Barkly tablelands, which have received a fraction of their average annual rainfall over the past year.
“There is a possibility with some isolated heavy showers that flooding and flash flooding could be experienced,” he said.
“It’s very hard to model flash flooding, so we continue to provide advice to the community to make sure that they’re in a safe location, and if they feel that they’re unsafe that they leave the area that they’re in now.”
Rural arterial roads in the Barkly have been closed north of the Barkly Highway and east of the Stuart Hwy, including the Carpentaria and Tablelands highways, Austral Downs Road, Murry Downs Road, Hatches Creek Access Road, Barkly Stock Route and Ranken Road.
Emergency services have advised motorists to avoid all travel on these roads
Last night Barkly Regional Mayor Steve Edgington said the region was well prepared for the incoming storms.
“We’ve been informed that we could receive anywhere between 100-200mm of rain commencing Saturday night and during Sunday,” he said.
“Potentially, if Tennant Creek was hit with that amount of rain over a fairly short period there would be some localised flooding, but we believe at this stage have capacity to manage that.”
Cr Edgington said Tennant Creek was “relatively calm” last night, with residents “waiting to see what happens in the next 24 hours”.
“At this stage the general message is for everybody to keep safe, and if we do have a large amount of rain we encourage everyone to stay away from drains, waterways and any fast flowing water,” he said.