Flood crisis: Urgent calls for help as a pregnant woman is stuck on a roof as water levels rise
Mayor Steve Krieg says Lismore faces a 'catastrophic' flood event.
Evacuation warnings and rescues are underway in Lismore as the city in the NSW Northern Rivers district faces the worst flooding ever.
Authorities have ordered the people of the town to immediately evacuate after the Wilson River broke its levee overnight.
Lismore mayor Steve Krieg issued an urgent plea for anyone with a boat to help a pregnant woman trapped on the roof of her house.
‘As widespread flooding in the Northern Rivers district of NSW and can get to Engine Street in South Lismore, there’s a pregnant lady sitting on her roof. HELP please,’ Steve Krieg wrote on his Facebook page.
Mayor Steve Krieg issues an urgent plea to help a pregnant woman trapped on top of her home.
The city is facing its worst-ever flood disaster with houses and cars underwater and the SES overwhelmed by calls for help.
Many others in Lismore and in other flood-affected areas are also stranded on their roof tops as the water levels rise.
Mother-of-three Kate Davis, from Lismore told Today how her family were forced to climb onto their the roof overnight.
People in Lismore are stranded on their roofs waiting for help.
Kate told Today that the water was ankle-deep around midnight and by 4.15am the water was up to the second storey of their home on Casino Street.
“We are not the only one, there is lots of us us,” she explained.
“We just grabbed shoes and whatever floatation devices we could find, popped the kids on the roof and called for help – we have been sitting waiting ever since.”
Kate described her neighbours calls for help as “heartbreaking”.
“I don’t know if you can hear it in the background, but the neighbours that are stuck in their roof next door they are just screaming for help,” Ms Davis said.
“It is heart-breaking to listen to them.”
“The neighbours that are stuck in their roof next door they are just screaming for help.”
The intense weather conditions is making it difficult for rescue services, but Today host Karl Stefanovic confirmed Today had managed to get help for Kate Davis and her neighbours.
“We have managed to track someone down there, they are aware of where you are,” said Karl Stefanovic.
“On behalf of all of us you are doing a terrific job, and your family, your beautiful family, hold tight and hopefully that rescue will come really soon.”
