Before and after satellite imagery show early impact of NSW (Australia) floods

The areas around Port Macquarie and Taree, where the Hastings and Manning Rivers respectively run through, have been the focus of much of the devastation on the Mid North Coast over the past few days as a result of flooding.

Kempsey, which borders the Macleay River, Newcastle and the Maitland region, Bulahdelah, and the areas around Laurieton, Kew and Kendall area have also been heavily impacted.

Using satellite imagery, the Herald is able to give a bird’s-eye view of the spread of the inundation by comparing the regions between early March and March 19. The satellite imagery comes via Sentinel-1 - a constellation of two polar-orbiting satellites launched by Europe’s Earth Observation Programme in 2014. They use radar data to “see-through” thick cloud, according to Dr Robbi Bishop-Taylor, an earth observation scientist at Geoscience Australia

Satellite imagery of Sydney’s west and north-west has not yet become available in a way that is easy to compare the areas before and after flooding, especially since flooding in those areas started to occur later than in the state’s north. However, satellites tasked by Europe’s Earth Observation Programme have provided flood maps of that area. With other flood warnings issued for NSW, these images are likely to change again in the near future.

Kempsey

The SES issued an evacuation order on March 19 for people in low-lying properties in Kempsey CBD, saying: “Once floodwater passes 6.6 metres on the Kempsey gauge, the Kempsey CBD levee may start to overtop and roads will begin to close.”

On Monday, NSW Mid North Coast town recorded it’s heaviest 24-hour rainfall in 47 years, at 226mm, as thousands remained evacuated due to the threat of the rising Macleay River.

Port Macquarie

The Bureau of Meteorology said the Mid North Coast was likely to continue receiving heavy rain until Wednesday evening.

An evacuation order was given for people in low-lying properties in Port Macquarie to leave the “high danger area” by 8pm on Friday.

Restaurant owner Nathan Tomkin had two minutes to evacuate 50 guests before the floodwaters came. On Monday morning, Mr Tomkin tried to visit the restaurant but the flood was too high. He is only now starting work on cleaning up.

Taree

Taree was cut off for two days as rivers broke their banks, inundating much of the town.

The water receded enough to open the roads on Monday afternoon and the cleanup is underway.

Laurieton, Kew and Kendall area

Students at Kendall Public School, near Port Macquarie had barely begun their lessons on Friday when the principal sent word to parents that a nearby river was rising rapidly and the crossing would soon be cut off. Thirteen school staff - including many who had their own young children at home - stayed to look after them. The children hunkered down in the library, playing games, doing puzzles and reading stories.

The town of Kendall, south of Port Macquarie, registered 700mm of rain in four days.

An evacuation order was also issued at 8pm on Friday for the foreshore areas of Laurieton.

Bulahdelah

The SES issued a formal evacuation warning for Bulahdelah on Friday as the Myall River continued to rise.

As of Tuesday, the river levels were falling but the Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood warning because of a risk it might rise again.

Newcastle/Maitland

Flights in and out of Newcastle Airport were suspended on Sunday night due to flooding on the runway, with the area having seen 50mm of rainfall since earlier that morning.

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