Clean-up begins after record Australia floods
10 March 2012 (Radio Australia) – Towns across Australia’s eastern states of New South Wales and Victoria are starting the clean up, after more than a week of record flooding. Three quarters of NSW has been affected by the floods, and 46 areas have been declared disaster zones. Flood waters are receding in much of the state, revealing the extent of the destruction they have wrought. Evacuation orders are still current for parts of Yenda, North Wagga, Gillenbah, parts of Forbes, Urana, and parts of Gumly Gumly. The situation is improving at Narrandera, west of Wagga Wagga, where the Murumbidgee River peaked at levels not seen since 1974. But residents downstream are preparing for flooding in the coming days. In Wagga, around 70 soldiers are due to arrive today to help clear the enormous amount of debris. The low-lying suburbs of North Wagga and Gumly Gumly remain flooded and residents are not expected to be allowed home until at least Sunday. Further south, residents of several Victorian towns are also beginning the clean-up. The town of Nathalia remains the focus of attention for emergency services as floodwaters continue to surround the area. A mechanical levee is preventing more than three metres of water from inundating hundreds of homes. Record floods have inundated 30 towns across Victoria’s north-east, leaving 1,000 properties isolated. Waters have finally receded enough for the clean-up to start at Katamatite, St James, Lake Rowan and Wilby. Australia’s Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten says insurance claims worth about $US64 million have been lodged as a result of the floods in NSW and Victoria. He says the figure represents more than 8,000 claims and believes that number is set to increase.
