Time to get out | Northern Rivers Weather | Local Weather Forecast for Northern Rivers

22nd May 2009

POLICE have closed off access to Grafton as residents begin evacuating the city.

As rain continues to fall police road blocks are vetting anyone entering the city, only allowing bona fide residents access to their homes.

Around 2pm the SES made an order for residents in Grafton and South Grafton to get out ASAP as the Clarence River threatened to overtop levee banks.

The SES predicted the Clarence River will peak at 7.8m by  midnight.

This is higher than the 2001 flood that came within 100mm of breaking into the city.

Earlier in the day the SES ordered residents of Ulmarra and Brushgrove to leave their homes, putting into practice personal and business evacuation plans.

Evacuees were told to go to Ballina rather than Grafton.

The Premier of NSW, Nathan Rees, has declared the Northern Rivers area, including the Clarence Valley a natural disaster area.

Mr Rees said on Friday his government was ready to provide for the communities, after the region was hit with torrential rain and strong winds.

“The declaration will provide for a range of assistance to cover personal hardship and distress as well as funding for those who have suffered property damage, including residents, councils, business owners and primary producers,” he said.

The Daily Examiner will make every effort to distribute papers to all its normal outlets tomorrow.

If you have any flood photos you can email them to photo@dailyexaminer.com.au





Photos from Grafton resident Finbah Neill.







Photos from The Daily Examiner.

How has the wild weather affected you? Tell us your story below or send us photos via email at editorial@finda.com.au.

Read more...

Northern Rivers flood photos

Squalls blackout whole region

SE Qld, NSW flood photo gallery

NSW flood information centre set up

Wild seas lash coast

Mass evacuations forced in Tweed

Rain and floods force evacuations

Bligh declares SEQ flood disaster

Northern NSW prepares for floods

Severe weather still expected

Rain a crushing blow for farmers


Check out the Bureau of Meteorology's live radar image.

• Daily newspapers
• Bundaberg News-Mail
• Coffs Coast Advocate
• Fraser Coast Chronicle
• Gladstone Observer
• Grafton Daily Examiner
• Gympie Times
• Ipswich Queensland Times
• Lismore Northern Star
• Mackay Daily Mercury
• Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
• Sunshine Coast Daily
• Toowoomba Chronicle
• Tweed Daily News
• Warwick Daily News
• Community newspapers
• Ballina Shire Advocate
• Biloela Central Telegraph
• Byron Shire News
• Coolum & North Shore News
• East-Ipswich Satellite
• Emerald Central Queensland News
• Gatton Star
• Gold Coast Mail
• Ipswich Advertiser
• Logan Reporter
• Noosa News
• The Northern Rivers Echo
• Whitsunday Times
• Other publications
• Surat Basin News