Wild storms and flash floods continue to hit New South Wales’s south region hard, with the state’s emergency services receiving more than 1,000 calls for help in the last 24 hours.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, about 200mm of rain has fallen in the Bega Valley in the last 24 hours.
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The department has forecasted heavy falls across the south coast, but the condition is expected to ease later today.
Following record rainfall, various regions, including the Shoalhaven area, are preparing to undertake clean-up efforts.
SES spokesperson Jenni North said most calls for assistance came from the south-east areas where they have received the heaviest falls.
“There is a focus around Bega, also around Conjola where we did have some homes inundated with some flash flooding.”
Areas including Illawarra, Sydney, Central and Hunter coasts have also been significantly affected.
“We did have damage reports coming through across all those areas.”
The clean-up will begin on Lake Conjola today, with about 40 properties affected by flooding.
SES South East Zone Deputy Zone Commander Sharon Fox told ABC that it was good to see residents heading warnings not to drive through floodwater.
“The flash flooding that we’ve seen over the last 24 hours is potentially life-threatening … when people choose to drive through it,” she said.
“From the looks of it, it’s a smart community down there, making smart decisions.”
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