Residents in Sale are on high alert Friday morning as flood waters are expected to inundate homes.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan told ABC Radio National emergency services were preparing for home to flood.
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“We expect there will be some homes inundated,” she said.
“In terms of the actual number of properties inundated that is yet to be fully assessed given the flood waters are still rising.
“It has been a challenging week… Just a couple of days ago on Tuesday I was briefed by our emergency management commissioner on the fire situation that was moving through the state particularly in Gippsland and now in the past two days it has been the focus of the flood effort.”
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Correct at 9am Friday morning, an Emergency Warning – Not Safe to Return remained in place for the Port of Sale.
The Thomas River was likely to exceed moderate flood level (three metres) and could reach major flood levels (four metres).
On Friday morning, two men were rescued from the roof of their car near Bairnsdale, prompting emergency services to remind people to not drive through flood waters.
Acting SES chief officer David Barker told the ABC it could have easily cost the two men their lives.
“They had to be rescued from the roof of their vehicle,” he said.
“It’s a very salient reminder, never enter flood waters, always choose an alternative route.”
Victorians are advised to stay up-to-date via a number of resources:
- VicEmergency website
- VicEmergency Hotline – freecall 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.