FLEW FRINGES OF FLOOD DISASTER: TROPIC DOWNPOUR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23043, 6 September 1949, Page 4

FLEW FRINGES OF FLOOD DISASTER: TROPIC DOWNPOUR

“When flood weather conies to Gisborne we have plenty of rain, but what makes a flood here would seem like a cupful of water to the people of the Kempsey district, in the north-west section of New South Wales. There trie rain is tropical in intensity, when it does come, and a few hours’ downpour lilis the river channels and sweeps everything before the rapid accumulation of surface water,” stated Mr. George Barnes, a Gisborne businessman who returned at the week-end from a short trip to Australia.

En route from Sydney to Morcc. where he had the unwelcome duty of attending a family funeral, Mr. Barnes flew by chartered plane into country where rain had been desperately needed for weeks. During his visit there he learned of one farmer who had lost 900 ewes in the previous week for lack of water —a light shower would have been enough to save them. Overnight Stop at Quirindi

It was the intention of the pilot to drop in at Tamworth, on the way to Moree, but the plane could not make safe progress through the torrential downpour which it encountered in the mountain country en route. After stooging around for some time the plane was put down for an overnight stop at Qnir indi, and next day proceeded to Cessnock, although at the time of starting it was not possible to say whether Cessnock would be in a condition to receive aircraft.

The rain was incessant throughout the night and on the following day, and ground conditions being what they were—akin to concrete as to the surface and with no absorptive power, the water simply rolled off the higher parts into the valleys and rivers. Sweeping down from the mountains, it inundated a terrific scope of flat country and swept the banks of rivers clear of all forms of human improvements. Stock, fences, barns, and houses went down the rivers, and at the time of Mr. Barnes’ return to New Zealand the death-roll of human beings had mounted to five, with many areas still out of contact. House and Tree-Top Rescues

In two or three days the Kempsey area was in a shocking condition both as to flood damage and from the effects of communication breakdowns.

After his return to Sydney Mr. Barnes kept touch with the pilot of the chartered plane, and learned that he was spending much of his time in the air, spotting for rescue parties and reporting to police on the development of the flood peril. This pilot and others were able to direct help to people clinging to treetops above the level of the flood, and to others who sat astride the gables of their inundated houses and waved sheets and towels to attract attention. The police force had a large number of boats operating, and followed up quickly on any reports of human beings in danger, River Fills 15-Mile Wide Valley

The stock losses in the Kempsey area were tremendous, according to the pilot, who was able to watch the subsidence of the main flow of flood-waters and note the ravages left. Mr. Barnes was quite able to credit the pilot’s reports, for he had seen a river in the neighbourhood of Quirindi spread itself over a 15-mile wide valley and surround the partly submerged houses long regarded as being secure from the worst possible flooding. He was able to speak with some personal knowledge of the effects of the torrential rain, too. When his plane left Moree it was possible to see from the air that every road out of the town was cut by floods, some of the major streams having attained a depth of 35ft. where in normal times the flow was only a foot or two deep.