Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred: Key information for Armidale region

Published on 08 March 2025

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UPDATE: Monday 10 March 2025
  • Current forecasts are that severe weather is continuing, and that rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding are expected over next days
  • Council continues to work closely with NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) and is receiving daily updates
  • Council is updating Live Traffic to assist with current roads information

  • Council crews continue to respond to and manage incidents across the region

  • As Armidale Regional Council local government area is included in the Natural Disaster Declaration (AGRN 1198), residents, primary producers, businesses, and not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply for assistance. Find out more and access assistance HERE

UPDATE: Sunday 9 March 2025
  • Current forecasts are that the severe weather is continuing, and that rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding are expected over the next few days
  • Council is working closely with NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) and receiving daily updates

  • Council crews continue to respond to and manage incidents across the region

  • NATURAL DISASTER DECLARATION

The Australian and NSW Governments confirmed a Natural Disaster Declaration (AGRN 1198) for select local government areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred Severe Weather - including Armidale Regional Council local government area.

This means that assistance is available to qualifying residents, primary producers, businesses, and not-for-profit organisations. Find out more and access assistance HERE

UPDATE: Saturday 8 March 2025
  • Current forecasts are that significant rain is expected to continue over next days.
  • Council is working closely with NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) and receiving daily updates.
  • Council crews are responding to incidents across the region.

For EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE during a flood or storm call NSW SES on 132 500 or for life threatening emergencies call Triple Zero (000)

NSW SES website and social media will contain up to date emergency information:

Check LIVE TRAFFIC for updates on road status

  • Refer to Live Traffic for the status of roads. Download the app to stay up to date! 

REPORT DAMAGE TO ROADS / INFRASTRUCTURE:

Preparing for flood events

Be prepared and have a PLAN

Know your risk

Be alert to what is happening

Ensure you remain up to date on the latest forecasts

Do not enter or play in flood waters, do not drive through flood waters

Get prepared and stay informed

Get prepared

  • The key in an emergency is to prepare early
  • Complete your flood plan
  • Download the EmergencyPlus app to provide critical location details required to mobilise emergency services
  • Download the Get Prepared app. Get Prepared is an easy-to-use app that empowers you to make important decisions ahead of time and it helps you create a personal emergency plan.
  • RedCross has tips and plans to that empower you to make important decisions ahead of time and it help you create a personal emergency plan

Stay informed

Understanding emergency warnings

Across Australia there is a nationally consistent set of icons to help all people easily identify the type of hazard and warning level. The flood warnings look like this and mean:

Flood emergency icons.png  

Yellow = Advice
There is a heightened level of threat. Stay up to date as the situation changes.

Orange = Watch and Act
Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family. NSW SES does not issue a Watch and Act level warning for tsunami.

Red = Emergency Warnings
The highest level of warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately.

If you need help

If you need assistance during flooding or storms call the SES on 132 500

If you have a life-threatening emergency call 000

 

If the power goes out, make a plan for:

  • if you are likely to be isolated, stock up on essential items, but no need to panic purchase
  • ensuring you have enough warm clothing and medicines
  • ensuring you have back up light sources, mobile phone battery packs
  •  having a battery-operated radio (remember to check the batteries are working)

  •  raising your assets above expected flood heights

If you need to evacuate

  • when will you go?
  • where will you go?
  • what will you take?
  • how will you prepare your family?
  • what will you do with your pets or livestock?

Primary producers and landholders

  • If you have experienced disaster impacts on your farm or primary production enterprise, please complete the Primary Industries natural disaster damage assessment.
  • (This includes commercial fishers and aqua culturists affected by floods)
  • This survey is to report damage to primary industries only (not houses or off farm damage). DPI uses these surveys to determine the scale and severity of the impact on agriculture and target assistance and resources.

 

Dealing with disasters can be confronting, but you do not need to do it alone

  • Check in with family, neighbours, and your community if you can
  • For non-crisis mental health support, call BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636
  • Children and young people can call Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or chat online
  • If you need crisis mental health support, call LifeLine Australia on 13 11 14
  • If you or someone you know needs specialist mental health care, please call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511
  • For free health advice any time day or night, call HealthDirect on 1800 022 222

Donations

Sometimes, after disasters well intentioned people or groups organise donations for affected people. Many of you would be aware that unrequested and uncoordinated donations can hamper recovery efforts.

Armidale Regional Council does not accept donations.

An option is to try an agency like GIVIT, which matches people who need specific items with people who can donate them. Where possible, GIVIT uses donated funds to purchase items from local providers to support the economic recovery of impacted regions. 100% of donated funds will be used to purchase essential goods and services for people affected by this disaster.

GIVIT has been contracted by the NSW Government to manage donations of essential goods and services for people who have been impacted by natural disasters. 

Information for people who want to donate: GIVIT

GIVIT works directly with councils, outreach teams, recovery organisations, charities, community groups and schools to identify exactly what's needed to make sure people get what they need, when they need it.

Information for people who have been impacted by a disaster and need help

If you have been impacted by this disaster and require essential goods or services please visit GIVIT to find an organisation in your area that is registered with GIVIT. 

Alternatively visit your local NSW Government Recovery Hub.

What is council's role?

In response to floods, storms and tsunamis in NSW, the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is the lead agency. Council will be conducting response works under their direction.

Council is:

  • setting operation staff rosters to ensure that our staff have a sustainable presence a support agency for the duration of the event
  • engaging contractors to supplement where operational needs may be overwhelmed
  • planning and implementing road closures as required
  • preparing and deploying equipment quickly and efficiently
  • establishing communication so we prioritise and coordinate efficiently our response supporting both the SES and Transport for New South Wales supporting the implementation of road closures and diversions to support road network closures on their network
  • establishing and maintaining contact with our neighbouring councils to ensure a consistent approach to the natural disaster impacts
  • planning for and delivering appropriate support for displaced residents and livestock
  • completing asset inspections to track new and emerging damage caused by the severe weather event
  • filling and maintaining our water reservoirs to ensure loss of power does not affect the potable water supplies in our region
  • preparing our waste facilities for the impact of rain and the potential influx of debris.

Specific to the vulnerable community of Lower Creek, council is:

  • managing a complete closure of the Kempsey-Armidale Road to all traffic including residents due to its vulnerability to severe weather events
  • engaging appropriate contractors with skills in geotechnical engineering to assess any further damage to the road
  • engaging contractors for the expedient clearing of debris and emergency service restoration in the event new slips occur on the road
  • engaging with the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

During the weather event you will see council staff:

  • cutting vegetation including fallen trees and removing them from our roads
  • clearing and receiving aerial debris waste at our waste management facilities
  • using heavy plant to clear large obstructions and repair washouts on our road network
  • maintaining up to date information on Live Traffic
  • responding to enquiries and reports, and posting regular updates online and via social media
  • working side by side with the SES at the Emergency Operation Centre (if one is set up).

If you see us on site, please:

  • keep clear
  • follow our instructions
  • don’t try to interfere as we support the great work of the SES to respond to our community's needs!

We are trying to conduct our work safely and keep you safe as well.

Please stay off the roads as much as possible. Drivers are asked to use caution when travelling roads and avoid travel during inclement weather including extremely high winds and intense rainfall, especially at night.

If you need to be on the roads, please drive to the conditions and stay safe!

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