32,000 Australian residents told to evacuate after 3 feet of rainfall pound Sydney

Brian Niemietz

More that three feet of rainfall in 24 hours caused flooding in parts of Australia, and more than 30,000 Sydney-area residents were told to make plans to leave their homes Monday as torrential rains continued to pound the area around the country’s largest city.

Up to five more inches of rain was expected as the area faced its fourth flood emergency in less than two years. High winds, rough seas and heavy rains overwhelming dams posed a threat to the city’s 5 million residents as a month’s worth of rain saturated the region over the weekend, authorities said.

Flood waters surround an industrial property in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Flood waters surround an industrial property in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.


Flood waters surround an industrial property in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022. (Mark Baker/)

“The latest information we have is that there’s a very good chance that the flooding will be worse than any of the other three floods that those areas had in the last 18 months,” Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.

Areas that avoided flooding last March and April and again in early 2021 could be affected by the current storm, Watt added.

“The system that has been generating this weather does show signs that it will ease tomorrow, but throughout [Monday], expect more rain,” an official with Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology manager said.

An estimated 32,000 people were impacted by evacuation orders, said New South Wales state Premier Dominic Perrottet, who added he anticipates the number to increase during the week.

A cargo ship with 21 crew members lost power off the New South Wales coast Monday morning. Rescue workers planned to use tugboats to drag it away from the port and into open waters, where it would be safer.

Flooded buildings are pictured next to the old Windsor Bridge along the overflowing Hawkesbury River in the northwestern Sydney suburb of Windsor on July 4, 2022.
Flooded buildings are pictured next to the old Windsor Bridge along the overflowing Hawkesbury River in the northwestern Sydney suburb of Windsor on July 4, 2022.


Flooded buildings are pictured next to the old Windsor Bridge along the overflowing Hawkesbury River in the northwestern Sydney suburb of Windsor on July 4, 2022. (SAEED KHAN/)

Swells are reportedly topping 26 feet bolstered by 34 mph winds. Airlifting the ship’s crew to safety was ruled out due to the dangerous weather conditions.

Mayor Theresa Fedeli, of the Camden municipality southwest of Sydney, said Sunday night’s flooding was taking a toll on her communities’ residents and business operators.

“They just keep saying ‘devastating,’” she said. “‘Not again.’”

A family is evacuated by State Emergency Service workers due to rising floodwaters in Bligh Park on July 4, 2022 in Sydney, Australia.
A family is evacuated by State Emergency Service workers due to rising floodwaters in Bligh Park on July 4, 2022 in Sydney, Australia.


A family is evacuated by State Emergency Service workers due to rising floodwaters in Bligh Park on July 4, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (mark evans/)

The mayor said government and citizens alike must learn to adapt to “the changing environment,” as flooding appears to be becoming more common. Heavy rainfall also pummeled the continent’s west coast in March 2021.

For now, it’s about riding out the current storm for Sydney and its neighboring towns.

Flood waters surround an industrial property in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022. More than 30,000 residents of Sydney and its surrounds have been told to evacuate or prepare to abandon their homes on Monday as Australia's largest city braces for what could be its worst flooding in 18 months.
Flood waters surround an industrial property in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022. More than 30,000 residents of Sydney and its surrounds have been told to evacuate or prepare to abandon their homes on Monday as Australia's largest city braces for what could be its worst flooding in 18 months.
Traffic signs sit submerged along a flooded road in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Traffic signs sit submerged along a flooded road in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Debris sits in the middle of the flooded Windsor Bridge on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Debris sits in the middle of the flooded Windsor Bridge on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Cars drive through flood waters in Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia on Monday, July 4, 2022. More than 30,000 residents of Sydney and its surrounds have been told to evacuate or prepare to abandon their homes on Monday as Australia's largest city braces for what could be its worst flooding in 18 months.
Cars drive through flood waters in Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia on Monday, July 4, 2022. More than 30,000 residents of Sydney and its surrounds have been told to evacuate or prepare to abandon their homes on Monday as Australia's largest city braces for what could be its worst flooding in 18 months.
People look at the flooded Windsor Bridge on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
People look at the flooded Windsor Bridge on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A car lies semi-submerged in flood waters at Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A car lies semi-submerged in flood waters at Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Members of local fire brigade work at a flooded sports venue in Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Members of local fire brigade work at a flooded sports venue in Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A car turns at a closed road in Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A car turns at a closed road in Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
This photos shows a flooded sports venue in Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
This photos shows a flooded sports venue in Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
An emergency vehicle blocks access to the flooded Windsor Bridge on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
An emergency vehicle blocks access to the flooded Windsor Bridge on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A woman looks over the flooded farmland at Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A woman looks over the flooded farmland at Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A car blocks access to a flooded street at Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A car blocks access to a flooded street at Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Residential properties and roads are submerged under floodwater from the swollen Hawkesbury River in Windsor, northwest of Sydney, Australia Monday, July 4, 2022.
Residential properties and roads are submerged under floodwater from the swollen Hawkesbury River in Windsor, northwest of Sydney, Australia Monday, July 4, 2022.
Workers clear mud from a bowling green at Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
Workers clear mud from a bowling green at Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A car sits semi-submerged in flood waters at Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.
A car sits semi-submerged in flood waters at Camden on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2022.

“We’ve got to be strong, we will get through this,” Fedeli said. “But you know, deep down it’s really hitting home hard to a lot of people.”

The city of Sydney’s Twitter feed warns locals to avoid nonessential travel, particularly by train, where transportation will be “heavily impacted.”

With News Wire Services

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