Plates are shifting, Floods in and EQs at Aussie

[link to hisz.rsoe.hu]

Flood waters have forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes in northern inland NSW, as severe thunderstorms hit parts of the Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes. Around 420 people were told to leave their homes in parts of north and east Coonamble this afternoon because of rising flood levels, State Emergency Service spokesman Phil Campbell said. They cannot leave the town because it is cut off by flood waters, Mr Campbell said, but were seeking nearby alternative accommmodation.

"The majority will stay with friends and family in town,'' he said. The Department of Community Services was arranging for others to be put up in motels, while some people were sleeping on mattresses at the local high school. Pets are being looked after at the local greyhound track. "It certainly is an inconvenience,'' Mr Campbell said. "However we want to make sure that the people there do not have any risk to their own safety, so we need to err on the side of caution.'' Minor flooding is expected around the town of Gilgandra in central western NSW but the SES does not believe the town will experience problems. "They will have a lot of water go past the town, but the town itself won't have any flooding issues,'' Mr Campbell said. Meanwhile, large hailstones, damaging winds and very heavy rainfall has swept through parts of the NSW Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said. Residents of towns including Mungindi, Moree, Inverell, Armidale, Tamworth and Coonabarabran were at risk of being affected, the BoM said. No reports of damage in the area had been reported, with most of the storms hitting unpopulated rural areas. But the SES is advising people in the affected regions to park cars under cover or away from trees, and to keep clear of fallen power lines, creeks and storm drains. People are also advised to secure or remove loose items from around houses, yards and balconies. Computers and appliances should be unplugged, and telephone use should be avoided during storms.