Police and emergency services are urging the community not to take risks in the wet weather conditions being experienced across much of NSW.
Deputy State Emergency Operations Controller, Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said the Bureau of Meteorology had issued severe weather warnings including heavy rainfall, damaging winds, abnormally high tides, and damaging surf for the Sydney Metropolitan area, Illawarra, South Coast and parts of Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains areas.
“There is also potential for periods of torrential rainfall and life-threatening flash-flooding,” Asst Comm Webb said.
“During severe weather events, NSW Police are poised to assist the State Emergency Service, and we are currently working with them to minimise the impact of the storms on the community,” she said.
Asst Comm Webb said there had been hundreds of calls for assistance, including trees, boulders or power poles down onto cars and homes and across roads, as well as power outages and localised flooding.
“Police have also responded to or been made aware of incidents resulting from people taking unnecessary risks or displaying dangerous behaviour,” she said.
“I’m disappointed that I need to remind people to act responsibly and not to take risks in these types of conditions, especially when around floodwaters,” Asst Comm Webb said.