With rain continuing to fall across the district, police have commended the Forbes community for their ability to follow directions and thank them for making the visiting rescue operations staff comfortable during this difficult time.
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“The community of Forbes has been tolerant and relaxed in the face of this disaster and have shown a real country spirit,” said Chief Inspector Nick Weyland of Lachlan Local Area Command.
Inspector Weyland has been seconded to the position of Local Emergency Operation Controller and expressed his admiration for the way in which the community of Forbes have come together to calmly and methodically prepare for his natural disaster.
“From as soon as we knew the water was rising, the SES advised people to start preparing. They were then inundated with volunteers who worked tirelessly day and night to prepare sandbags which were then given to the community to protect their properties.”
Inspector Weyland said hundreds of pallets of sandbags were prepared by locals prior to this event.
The unpredictability of this disaster is now of most concern to police. “In 1990, the flood waters were higher but it flowed in a different direction,” said Inspector Weyland.
In previous floods, the water has split the town in two, leaving the south side inaccessible. This time, the water behaviour has been less predictable which means access in and out of town is better but has created a greater unknown.
The community of Forbes has been tolerant and relaxed in the face of this disaster and have shown a real country spirit.
- Chief Inspector Nick Weyland
“My guess is that due to the amount of rain we’ve had over the past few months, vegetation has grown and slowed the water flow, changing it’s direction,” said Inspector Weyland.
To date, 20 homes that were evacuated have water over floor flooding and around 100 rural properties are inundated or isolated.
Inspector Weyland said that in addition to the volunteers, local ambulance officers, NSW Fire and Rescue and RFS have been working around the clock to provide the community with emergency service, backed up with additional resources from Sydney.
Police also commend Forbes shire council employees who have ensured all services have remained in place during the flood and roads monitored constantly with road closures updated regularly.
“The effort given by emergency services and council have been extraordinary,” said Inspector Weyland.
Dave Owens has been appointed as the Regional Recovery Coordinator and his team will begin the recovery process as soon as Police and SES decide there is no longer a threat to safety.
The police presence in town has been increased to secure the safety of the people of Forbes with 2-3 additional officers travelling over from Parkes, increasing the presence in town to 5 police officers each shift.
Police and SES will remain in response mode well into the next week as the town holds it’s breath and waits to see what mother nature has in stall next for the town of Forbes.