Forbes remains a major focus for the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES), as the Lachlan River reaches a 10.7m peak, close to the 10.8m record set in 1952.
NSW SES members and emergency service partners are continuing to respond to requests for assistance, as the community faces renewed major flooding.
NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns acknowledged that the Forbes community had been asked to evacuate for the second time in two weeks.
“We would like to thank the community for paying attention to emergency warnings. Evacuating immediately when instructed to do so is the best way to ensure you stay safe,” Assistant Commissioner Kearns said.
“We know that every flood is different, and if an earlier flood didn’t reach you it doesn’t mean that this one won’t.”
The NSW SES continues to help the communities in downstream areas of Condoblin and Euabalong with sandbagging, public information, emergency supplies and evacuation assistance. The river heights in these areas continue to rise, with some areas instructed to prepare to evacuate while others prepare to face isolation due to flood waters.
Support is also welcomed from the Australian Defence Force, with high clearance vehicles and 180 ADF personnel deployed in the Central West NSW region from this afternoon.
Damage assessment and recovery continues in the flood affected town of Eugowra.
In the two months since this flood event began in September, the NSW SES has conducted more than 5,000 rapid damage assessments. This includes some houses which have been assessed recently for the second time due to repeated flood impact.
The NSW SES State Operations Centre has received over 16,000 requests for assistance in the same period, including more than 800 flood rescues.
Showers and thunderstorms are predicted again this weekend, with potential for damaging winds and hail. It’s expected that these storms will be less severe than last weekend, but still pose a threat to flood-affected catchments.
Statistics last 24h through to 12pm:
Total NSW SES warnings: 112
- Emergency warnings: 23
- Watch and act: 70
- Advice: 19
Requests for assistance statewide past 24h: 284
Flood rescues: 7
For the latest flood information and warnings visit .
For help in storms, flood and tsunami call the SES on 132500, or 000 for life threatening emergencies.
