Flooding Calls For Communities In Victoria’s East To Evacuate

Several Victorian communities were told to evacuate Wednesday overnight as over 150mm of rain battered the state’s alpine areas.

It resulted in flood watch alerts in the Gippsland region, with residents told to seek higher ground shortly after they had been told it was “too late to leave”.

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On Wednesday night, towns along the Macalister River, downstream from Lake Glenmaggie were told to evacuate immediately. On Thursday morning, flood waters had reached 6.87 metres.

Residents were initially told it was too late to leave on Wednesday night, but at 4am on Thursday, 58,000 ML/d of water poured from Lake Glenmaggie, prompting the warning to advise to evacuate.

A relief centre has been established at the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex, 116 Cobains Road in Sale.

Wonnangatta residents were also told to move to higher ground overnight.

As of 7.30am Thursday morning, three Emergency Warnings remained in place for communities to move to higher ground or that it was “not safe to return”.

An additional 13 Watch and Act Warnings were also in place for communities in the state’s east.

While weather conditions are expected to ease on Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicted 10 to 25mm of rain to fall in the state’s far east.

Victorian residents are advised to use multiple sources to stay informed with the latest warnings information:

• VicEmergency website
• VicEmergency Hotline – free call 1800 226 226
• VicEmergency app
• Facebook or Twitter (#vicfloods)
• Tune in to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations, or Sky News TV.
• Bureau of Meteorology

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