The Northern Region Emergency Committee is currently working to evacuate the Daly River community to Darwin.
A Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) major flood warning is current for the Daly River, Northern Territory Police say
"The current advice from the Bureau of Meteorology is that the Daly River has reached major flood levels and will remain above major for some time" Northern Region Emergency Controller, Assistant Commissioner Matthew Hollamby said.
"The community has been on stand-by for evacuation as part of the Daly River Emergency Plan since last Friday.
"The bulk of the community is being evacuated today."
There are approximately 380 people (some have already self-evacuated) in the community who are expected to be evacuated using helicopter before being driven by bus to the Foskey Pavilion in Darwin.
"The Northern Region Emergency Committee teams have been working 24/7 to ensure the safe evacuation of the community," Northern Region Controller Hollamby said.
A Recovery Assistance Hotline has been established for anyone who has questions relating to the assistance available to them during or after the evacuation. The number is 1800 700 250 (press Option 4).
What to bring to the Evacuation Centre:
- 1 bag (which you can carry) per person.
- Clothes and underwear enough for a few days
- Personal items like towels and toiletries
- Medicines (and prescriptions if they are going to run out of pills)
- Nappies, toys and other things for children and babies
- Some form of identification
- Medicare card
- Bank account details
What to expect at the Evacuation Centre:The Evacuation Centre is a drug and alcohol free space. People will be provided with:
- Bed and linen
- All meals
- Toilets and showers
There are a number of other current weather events in the Top End.
Residents in Darwin and the rural areas are being urged to prepare for localised flooding in the coming days in light of recent heavy rainfall.
A truck with sandbags will be set up outside the Rapid Creek shops from three o’clock to six o’clock.
"You can also create your own sandbags if there is flooding, by using pillow cases or shopping bags filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home," Northern Territory Emergency Service Regional Manager, Mark Cunnington said.
"Residents are also being advised to source material for sandbags.
"Households should be aware of their local situation, and prepare and plan for the eventuality of flooding," Mr Cunnington said.
"Road conditions can change very quickly and we recommend drivers don’t enter flooded roads and adhere to the message turn around, don’t drown."
A number of roads are closed across the Top End because of floodwaters. An up-to-date list can be found online at Road Report http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/roadreport/
Access to a number of remote schools in the Top End, including in the Daly River, Arnhem and Katherine regions, has been affected today: http://bit.ly/2DN4gj9
For the latest weather information please visit www.bom.gov.au.
Follow www.SecureNT.nt.gov.au for all the latest safety advice.
