<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>339924</docID> <postdate>2025-03-08 13:58:22</postdate> <headline>Major flood warnings put Northern Rivers towns on alert</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-339925" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250307166952882019-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>There have been 30 flood rescues in northern NSW, mainly of people driving through flood waters. (Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Maeve Bannister</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Residents in the Northern Rivers region of NSW are being warned to heed evacuation orders and brace for possible flooding as authorities are concerned a river levee in Lismore could be breached.</strong></p> <p>Overnight, Tropical Cyclone Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low but millions of people in NSW and Queensland have been told to bunker down for dangerous conditions including flash flooding, heavy rain and intense winds.</p> <p>Major flooding is expected at the Wilsons River, which runs through Lismore, where the river height is predicted to reach around 10.6m, the height of the levee.</p> <p>NSW SES has conducted 30 flood rescues in 24 hours, mostly for people driving into floodwater—like this rescue seen on the #Tweed Council flood cam. Floodwaters can be deep, fast, and unpredictable. Never drive through floodwater.</p> <p>In an update, the SES said the river was at 9.04m and rising, above the moderate flood level of 7.2m.</p> <p>Saturday was "D-Day" for the weather event, NSW SES Commissioner Michael Wassing said.</p> <p>"Irrespective of the crossing of the cyclone currently in Queensland, we're still seeing very strong winds," he said.</p> <p>"But more importantly, we're still seeing very heavy rainfalls and therefore river rises, flash flooding and continued inundation of many areas."</p> <p>NSW Premier Chris Minns said the next 24 hours would be crucially important as the weather system moved across the area.</p> <p>"The message hasn't deviated, particularly as we move through to the flood part of this natural disaster," he said.</p> <p>"That is, never drive through floodwaters, never put yourself in danger. It is the most common way of people losing their lives during these flooding events."</p> <p>In the past 24 hours, there were 30 flood rescues, predominantly from people driving through floodwaters.</p> <p>There are currently 131 warnings, including 40 emergency warnings, which equates to approximately 20,000 people under evacuation orders.</p> <p>Mr Wassing said while levees had not overtopped, the SES was ready for all outcomes.</p> <p>"The CBD levee and the levee to the south part of Lismore has not overtopped... but we are getting flooding in low-lying areas in Lismore," he said.</p> <p>"Certainly with the Wilson River, the predictions indicate that there will be rises and there is likely to be further flooding."</p> <p>With significant power outages affecting Lismore, leaving around 43,000 premises without power, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said six generators were being sent from the national stockpile.</p> <p>"Right now, very clearly, we need to stick together and continue to look after each other," he said.</p> <p>"The impacts are already being felt and there is worse to come in the hours ahead."</p> <p>Mr Albanese is expected to visit the region in coming days and urged people to remain vigilant and stay out of floodwaters.</p> </body>