The Globe Hotel was surrounded by flood water on Wednesday morning. (Photos: Forbes Shire Council Facebook page)
Less than two weeks after the worst flood in decades, Forbes residents watched the water rise again this week to flood levels predicted to reach the record of 1952.
At the time of going to print the water had already gone past the previous week’s levels and was on its way to the predicted 10.8m. On Wednesday morning about two-thirds of the town was inundated.
“Residents can’t believe it could happen twice in such a short period of time, but they are resilient and everyone was working to fill sandbags,” Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller told ABC TV on Tuesday morning. “This is the worst flood I’ve ever seen. It is really heartbreaking. Our farming community and businesses are suffering terribly. We’ve got the Newell Highway closed, it’s terrible for the economy of a small rural town.”
Residents poured their hearts out on social media echoing the Mayor’s feelings. A post by Forbes Medicine & Mind read: “It’s really cruel doing this again 11 days after the last flood. There is so much uncertainty. So much destruction already and we know there is still so much more water to come. There is so much loss. So much grief.”
The RFS had to rescue 14 people from the roof of the Plainsmans Hotel in Forbes overnight on Tuesday, while an elderly couple, their daughter and their two dogs were rescued by a helicopter when their home was threatened by rising waters.
The SES again had to transfer critical health workers to the hospital via boat as it was the only means for them to get to work.
Recovery work from the previous flood was also hampered on Monday when the Newell Highway was closed between Forbes and Parkes and emergency crews could not make it to town. The rescue helicopters were also stuck at the Parkes airport as the Billabong Creek bridge was badly damaged in flash flooding at Parkes early Monday morning.