Evacuation underway as fears Redbank Dam will fail – North Richmond Bridge closed – no sandbags

The SES have sent an urgent alert – and are door-knocking – residents in 13 North Richmond streets to evacuate as soon as possible amidst fears a large body of water called Redbank Dam may fail.

The evacuation does not apply to Redbank itself and already questions are being asked about why the Dam is posing this threat to many parts of North Richmond.

Both SES and RFS are door-knocking now but here at the Post we have had numerous calls asking where people can go.

There is no evacuation centre west of the river. North Richmond Community Centre has been used as a de facto evacuation centre before but it is unlikely to be a good choice because it is below the evacuation area. Some councillors are scrambling to come up with alternatives.

North Richmond bridge closed late this afternoon after rising flood waters lapped its deck.

Richmond Bridge just before it closed late this afternoon – no rails down then…

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Wednesday and Thursday are going to be the real danger days for our region and they have said the flood may well be as damaging as the major floods in March last year.

There are also no sandbags supplied so far by SES or Hawkesbury Council for anywhere west of the river. At 4.30 this afternoon the SES said residents could pick up sandbags from McQuade Park in Windsor, and into the evening.

Here’s the SES evacuation order in detail:

There is a likely chance that the Redbank Dam will fail and cause flooding to properties below the dam. NSW SES is directing people within North Richmond to evacuate the high danger area:

• Southern Cross Drive

• Spitfire Way

• Grainger Place

• Bradley Road

• Tyne Crescent

• Campbell Street

• Yvonne Place

• Michael Street north west of Gregory Street

• Northern side of Gregory Street

• Stephen Street north west of Arnold Street

• Pecks Road between Mokari Street and Bradley Road

• Elizabeth Street north west of Campbell Street

• Trent Place

• William Street north west of Charles Street

Where to go: Stay with family or friends outside the impacted area

Simple things you can do now:

• Lift personal possessions and important items above the predicted flood height.

• Take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with you.

•Leave as early as possible to avoid restricted road access

•Share this information with family, friends and neighbours and help others where possible.

If you are already a Hawkesbury Post supporter, thank you! Our site is free, relying on our supporters to operate. Independent journalism is more important than ever, please consider contributing.

Click here to see how

Don’t pay so you can read it. Pay so everybody can read it!