Three dead after floodwaters destroy Dungog houses, weather to worsen tonight
Three elderly Dungog residents have perished in flood waters after four houses were swept away in what has been described by experts as the 'worst storm of the decade'.
A woman and two men were found dead in the township, according to reports, as 312mm of heavy rain hit the township over the last 24 hours.
The area is cut off from the rest of region, with reports of roads and bridges being washed away.
Power lines are down and phone calls to the town are not getting through.
The weather was set to get worse on Tuesday night as NSW Premier Mike Baird urged employers to let their workers go home early so they could get back safely.
There were also fears that Manly Dam might flood overnight threatening hundreds of homes in low-lying parts of Manly, Manly Vale and North Manly.
Steven Pearce, SES Deputy Commissioner. told 7News that the Central Coast, Hunter and Mid North coast are the worst affected areas of NSW.
He explained that the situation was very challenging for the emergency services as the current storm calms down but a new front was coming in bringing more bad weather Wednesday night.
He said thousands of trees and power lines had been brought down with 200mm of rain falling and homes even being washed away.
Winds are averaging 100km an hour with some gusts up to 130km/h - the equivalent of a category 2 cyclone.
People living in the worst affected areas have been warned not to travel under any circumstances and not to walk, ride or drive through floodwaters.
The three people killed in the Dungog flood were reportedly not connected with the floating houses and two were reportedly were residents of an aged care facility in the town.
The tragic deaths are the first reported in what experts are calling the worst storm to hit New South Wales in the last five years.
More than 20 people had to be rescued on Tuesday.
@7NewsSydney Tree falls on my dad's car while he was driving it this morning. Police said its a miracle he survived pic.twitter.com/7KQzq69ZZq
— Tam (@TammyTers) April 21, 2015
Rain radar at 3:45pm. Heavy rain in the Lake Macquarie and northern Central Coast region. http://t.co/sT8J6piADt pic.twitter.com/IbIUL3mSlc
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 21, 2015
The weather is forecast to worsen tonight so the SES is encouraging people to head home early while it's still daylight. Stay safe everyone.
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) April 21, 2015
“A number of homes have been lost, and we’ve also lost life, we have to get through the next few hours” - @mikebairdMP #SydneyStorm
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 21, 2015
Premier @mikebairdmp has appealed for people to leave work early because of #SydneyStorm http://t.co/9S6j9eXXx2 pic.twitter.com/PVaw7TcClu
— Transport for NSW (@TransportforNSW) April 21, 2015
Flooding in East Maitland. Credit: Brad Armstrong #NewyStorm https://t.co/j8aLKIbNSE
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 21, 2015
Gosford's Broadwater - Near Central Coast Stadium. Tweet us your pics & video. #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/MLp5swFFZZ
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 21, 2015
Sent to us by some crazy Seven News viewers. Thanks boys! #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/U3bay5Cav7
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 21, 2015
KEARSLEY | #FRNSW f/fighters have rescued 4 people trapped inside a home on Kearsley Rd due to rising flood waters. #NSWWeather
— Fire & Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) April 21, 2015
SYDNEY CBD | #FRNSW responding to damaged glass window panel hanging from 6th floor of blding, Martin Pl nr Macquarie St.
— Fire & Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) April 21, 2015
GRETA | #FRNSW conducting a flood rescue at Sale St. House severely damaged by flood waters. Reports of 6 ppl with hypothermia. #NSWWeather
— Fire & Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) April 21, 2015
Thornton Station on the #HunterLine flooded due to #sydneystorm. Seek alternative transport: http://t.co/aB1ns2utWv pic.twitter.com/kO9THJumZF
— NSW TrainLink North (@TrainLinkNorth) April 21, 2015
Brother-in-law found his car smashed and a goat in his carport this morning. Anyone missing a goat? #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/hUMoDd1Oer
— katiewebb (@katiewebb) April 21, 2015
The east coast low is expected to pound NSW for another 12 hours before easing on Wednesday morning.
In Newcastle, an elderly woman is fighting for life after being rescued from flood waters in the Hunter region and a cruise ship is stuck outside Sydney Harbour as Category 2 cyclonic winds and heavy rain lash NSW.
IN PICTURES: New South Wales coast lashed by cyclonic storm
The woman is one of two people who were reported missing near Stroud, about an hour north of Newcastle, earlier this morning.
The SES have sent out text messages to residents in Newcastle warning that the storms will get worse tonight in the area.
The text said: "Residents Newcastle and urban areas. Expect rapid rise and high velocity flash flooding in local creeks and watercourses."
SES sends emergency text to phones in Newcastle. #newcastlestorm #Newcastle #storm pic.twitter.com/WYJ4zqo1WJ
— Matthew Kelly (@matt_kell01) April 21, 2015
.@7NewsSydney reporter @AngieAsimus is braving the weather to bring the latest on #sydneystorms LIVE at #BondiBeach. http://t.co/Qtfk8G82XK
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 21, 2015
SES deputy commissioner Steven Pearce says the elderly couple has been located.
He's told the Seven Network they've been rescued and taken to hospital.
STROUD update | #FRNSW Dungog crew has rescued 4 ppl from roof, continuing search for 2 missing. @NSWSES swiftwater rescue on way.
— Fire & Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) April 20, 2015
Ouch, my poor house :( pic.twitter.com/XfJfx3fPEx
— Bob Baldwin MP (@bobbaldwinmp) April 20, 2015
However, his information is that the lady is in a critical condition.
In other Newcastle chaos, a bus driver in Newcastle had to be rescued after the bus he was driving was washed off the road.
Passengers were due to disembark the Carnival Spirit on Tuesday morning but the large swell has prevented the ship from entering Sydney Harbour, causing it to become stuck just outside Sydney Heads.
The ship may be close to port, but it could be a while until the passengers touch dry land as Port Authority of NSW has closed Sydney Harbour for commercial shipping.
"The Sydney Harbour master has closed the port of Sydney and Botany, possibly for the next 48 hours," a Port Authority of NSW spokesman said on Tuesday.
Tracks underwater at Marrickvilke station #auspol #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/ELIr3oTyjY
— Sir Liberal (@SirLiberal) April 20, 2015
When will this stop? I need some sleep! Not looking fw to see the damages in the morning #nopower #sydneystorm #SydneyWeather
— Emma Roborgh (@Emma_Roborgh) April 20, 2015
More than 180,000 homes and businesses are without power and 100 schools have been closed. The TAFE Hunter Institute has also been closed, as well as the University of Newcastle.
The SES has "hundreds and hundreds of volunteers out in the field", SES Deputy Commissioner Steve Pearce said.
"We are calling in more from other parts of Sydney and now up onto the Hunter area."
Mr Pearce said the police and NSW Fire and Rescue had been called in to help the SES on the 2400 call-outs they've received so far, with many more expected in daylight when people can see the damage around their homes.
Electricity companies are trying to restore power to 100,000 residences and businesses across the eastern seaboard.
@Cronulla_Sharks @DaveSmithNRL the crowd that showed up should get free tickets to another game. I was not one of them
— Soph (@SopherSteve) April 20, 2015
"We've had 24 hours of relentless gale-force winds. I haven't seen this wind damage for years," Mr Pearce said.
At least one person has had to be rescued from floodwaters at Parramatta, in Sydney's west, while others have been pulled out of stranded cars in other parts of the state.
"These jobs are a reminder to never drive, ride or walk through flood water," said SES spokeswoman Stephanie Wills on Monday night.
Destructive winds and heavy rainfall have also battered the Illawarra and Hunter regions in an unusually large storm for this time of year.
100kmh gusts / H2O through the walls / We've had to brace the windows. 😳 #SydneyWeather #sydneystorm #watsonsbay pic.twitter.com/NcvMk1MALt
— HRH Sir Dame Owen (@ohh_ell) April 20, 2015
Ms Wills said the storm, which was outside the normal season between October and March, has inundated volunteers.
"It's unusual, but the weather is unpredictable," Ms Wills told AAP.
Stay safe everyone. We have one extra tree in our yard #theshire #sydneystorm #caringbah pic.twitter.com/LO4D2kh8Kg
— Megan Barnes (@Mummymegan) April 20, 2015
Can't sleep - the wind and rain are howling. Wondering if I should tape the windows #sydneystorm #SydneyRain
— Nikki Gooley (@nikkigools) April 20, 2015
Overnight storm photos taken by Narrabren fire station. #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/l4ubsRHkEs
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 20, 2015
Three extra tankers have been moved to Sydney's northern beaches.
Many roads have closed due to flooding, with warnings in place for coastal regions from the Manning Valley to the Central Coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned gale force winds of up to 100km/h will continue on Tuesday with high rainfall and heavy surf also predicted. The storm is forecast to move south gradually throughout the day.
"We have hundreds and hundreds of volunteers out in the field and we are calling in more from other parts of the Sydney and now up onto the Hunter area," State Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Steve Pearce told the ABC on Wednesday.
If you need SES assistance call 132 500 and if it is a life threatening emergency go directly to 000.