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Emergency Services Have To Canoe Through NSW Towns After Crazy Rain And Flooding

Emergency Services Have To Canoe Through NSW Towns After Crazy Rain And Flooding
Fairfax Media

It's been raining for three days in NSW and people are getting a little fed up with Mother Nature's latest waterworks.

As the Bureau of Meteorology tells us 2015 was Australia's fifth-hottest year on record, NSW is being drenched with rain that is totally blunting our summer plans for wearing shorts, going swimming and getting a tan. Some areas have received a month's rainfall in just two days, with up to 300mm falling.

Here's the sort of havoc the big wet is wreaking statewide:

Incredibly, Weatherzone says Newcastle -- on the state's central coast -- has received its biggest deluge this century, breaking records a quarter of a century old.

Parts of Raymond Terrace, north of Sydney, were evacuated due to flood danger. Here's a video of a Fire Rescue NSW responder having to canoe through the town:

And some more crazy pictures showing how wild this flooding at Raymond Terrace was:

Understandably, emergency services are cautioning citizens to be careful. The State Emergency Service is telling NSW residents to "restrict themselves to essential travel," having received over 1400 calls for assistance and having enacted dozens of flood rescues of people trapped in rising waters.

NSW Police have also released several advisories warning citizens to stay safe.

“We are appealing for motorists, and members of the public to never enter floodwaters or cross flooded causeways," said Police Region Emergency Operations Controller, Assistant Commissioner Jeff Loy.

“It is extremely dangerous for them and for those who have to rescue them. Floodwater can have fast moving undercurrents that can wash people and vehicles away. Everyone should always remember to never drive, ride or walk through floodwater."

Flood warnings are still in place for much of the state, but the BOM forecasts rain will ease on Thursday.

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