A flash flood sent water down Main Street in Yas on Monday afternoon, flooding shops. Many shops closed this morning, but have not yet recovered from the deluge. Photo: SES.
An emergency multi-agency search is underway today (November 1) for two people who went missing in the rising flood waters of Bevendale in the Southern Tablelands on Monday night.
At Rugby Road, about 50km east of Boulois, emergency services were called after reports that a utility was caught in flood waters as they tried to cross the flooded causeway of Preston Creek.
Two men managed to escape from the vehicle, while another two men, believed to have traveled in trays on the ute, have not yet been found.
The search by police and State Emergency Services volunteers was suspended last night due to low light and bad weather, but resumed first thing this morning.
Storms hit suburban Canberra and many rural towns and villages in southern New South Wales last night, flooding the main streets of Yass and Gunning and widening roads across Braidwood, Vangandor, Goulburn, Yonge and Cowra. has been closed.
Evacuation alerts have been issued for Aderong, Kootamundra and Gundagai.
The skies opened up shortly after the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the South Highlands and southwestern slopes at 6:48 pm Monday night.
By evening, Yas’ main street was like a fast-flowing river, and the town was already inundated by months of rain. Main streets were flooded, shops were flooded, and extensive damage was caused.
The Gunnings Telegraph Hotel, which was due to host the popular Melbourne Cup event, suffered severe water damage today.
The owner described it as an “overnight disaster” and added that the hotel will not be open on Tuesdays “or in the near future.”
Also on Main Street in Gunning, local cafes, garages and other businesses remain closed today. There was also a power outage in the village, so the local internet service was turned off so that equipment could be moved to safer higher ground. The Gunning Showground Hall doubled as a refuge, with locals flocking late last night for dry bedding.
Yas Main Street resembled a river late yesterday, with water rising rapidly and running into several storefronts. Photo: SES.
SES teams from faraway Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Collector and Bellmount Forest have been called in to help in Gunning
Overnight rainfall over the village ranged from 65 mm at Yas and Mullambaitman to 47 mm at Tarrago and 44 mm at Mount Fairy, with winds as strong as 115 km/h recorded at Tarrago. .
There were also reports of increasing damage from bitumen on the Barton Highway. Drivers were urged to slow down as they exited Mullambaitman due to a large pothole just off the village, resulting in a stream of cars with flat tires.
A sheep grazing alert was issued early today for the NSW Southwest Slopes and Southern Tablelands. The rain will taper off later today, leaving him with only a 20% chance of rain on Wednesday. Sunny but cloudy conditions are expected for the rest of the week.
