2021 Eastern Australia Floods
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Extreme rainfall on the east coast of Australia beginning on 18 March 2021 led to widespread
flood A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrol ...
ing in
New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...
, affecting regions from the North Coast to the Sydney metropolitan area in the south. Suburbs of Sydney experienced the worst flooding in 60 years, and the events were described by NSW Premier
Gladys Berejiklian Gladys Berejiklian (born 22 September 1970) is an Australian former politician who served as the 45th premier of New South Wales and the leader of the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party from 2017 to 2021. Berejiklian became a member ...
as " one in 100-year" flooding. Far-southeast communities in
Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...
were also affected by flooding and heavy rainfall, though to a lesser extent than those in New South Wales. The
Australian government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Government ...
declared many parts of the east coast a natural disaster zone after the flooding rains forced 18,000 people to evacuate, in addition to over 1,000 flood rescues. Described as a "prolonged event" by Berejiklian and "dangerous and threatening" by the
Bureau of Meteorology The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM or BoM) is an executive agency of the Australian Government responsible for providing weather services to Australia and surrounding areas. It was established in 1906 under the Meteorology Act, and brought together ...
, the floods extended from the coastal towns of
Taree Taree is a town on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of 26,381, and is the centre of a significant agricultural distr ...
and Kempsey on Thursday, 18 March, to the populated suburbs of
western Sydney Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that i ...
by Friday and Saturday.Parts of Australia declare natural disaster during 'once in 100 years' floods
by Jessie Yeung from
CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...
. 21 March 2021
The floods occurred less than 18 months after Australia was affected by the Black Summer bushfires, impacting many towns still recovering from that disaster.NSW flooding: disaster zones declared as 18,000 people evacuated in Sydney and mid-north coast
by Michael McGowan and Justine Landis-Hanley from The Guardian. 22 March 2021


Background


Weather

Persistent, heavy rain fell from March 16 to March 23 in
New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...
. The
Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...
reported that areas around Sydney and Hunter were drenched with more than to of rain in this time period. This region only receives an average of about to of rain in a year. The storm brought record rainfall in the north coast, with towns near
Port Macquarie Port Macquarie is a coastal town in the local government area of Port Macquarie-Hastings. It is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The town is located on the Tasman Sea c ...
, such as Kendall, seeing record rainfall of more than between 19 and 20 March.Record rains, flooding prompt evacuations in Australia
by
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News
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, in an event described as "volatile, dangerous and dynamic", the heavy rainfall event was caused by a blocking high in the
Tasman Sea The Tasman Sea ( Māori: ''Te Tai-o-Rēhua'', ) is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, situated between Australia and New Zealand. It measures about across and about from north to south. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer ...
(between
Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...
and
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
) that directed a strong, low pressure trough towards the NSW coast. The floods occurred due to the arrival of the La Nina weather pattern in September 2020, with the floods being La Nina's final storm event as the Bureau of Meteorology declared the phenomenon over on March 30.


Flooding

The state was not evacuated because of the floods.
New South Wales State Emergency Service The New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES), an agency of the Government of New South Wales, is an emergency and rescue service dedicated to assisting the community in times of natural and man-made disasters. The NSW SES is made up al ...
(SES) had responded to over 12,000 requests for help and 1000 direct flood rescues since 18 March during the storm, with the coastal area between the Mid North Coast and Greater Sydney being the most affected by the storm, where the SES had given flood evacuation warnings in many areas of these regions. Across the state, 10,000 people have been affected by evacuation orders, though around 18,000 people have been evacuated from their homes (3,000 of those in
Western Sydney Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that i ...
and about 15,000 in the
Mid North Coast The Mid North Coast is a country region in the north-east of the state of New South Wales, Australia. The region covers the mid northern coast of the state, beginning from Port Stephens north of Sydney, and extending as far north as Woolgoo ...
), Many evacuation centres have been set-up to accommodate the displaced residents, in addition to over 130 school closures and road closures, which were cut off by water. Since 20 March, after the torrential rain began, around 450
gigalitre The litre (international spelling) or liter (American English spelling) (SI symbols L and l, other symbol used: ℓ) is a metric unit of volume. It is equal to 1 cubic decimetre (dm3), 1000 cubic centimetres (cm3) or 0.001 cubic metre (m3) ...
s of water a day had been released from the
Warragamba Dam Warragamba Dam is a heritage-listed dam in the outer South Western Sydney suburb of Warragamba, Wollondilly Shire in New South Wales, Australia. It is a concrete gravity dam, which creates Lake Burragorang, the primary reservoir for water supp ...
, equal to the contents of Sydney Harbour, which is around 500 gigalitres. The NSW and
Australian Government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Government ...
s had declared 16 natural disaster zones in areas from the central and mid-north coast, from Hunter Valley near Sydney, to Coffs Harbour, with the SES responding to 7,000 calls for assistance throughout the eastern seaboard. Major flooding occurred along the
Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River, is a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney. ...
, the
Macleay River The Macleay River is a river that spans the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts of New South Wales, Australia. Course and features Formed by the confluence of the Gara River, Salisbury Waters and Bakers Creek, the Macleay River r ...
, the Wollombi Brook, Rickabys Creek, Widemere Detention Basin,
Manning River Manning River (Biripi: ''Boolumbahtee''), an open and trained mature wave dominated barrier estuary, is located in the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts of New South Wales, Australia. It is the only double delta river in the ...
and the
Colo River The Colo River, a perennial stream that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. Course The Colo River rises on the Great Dividing Range, northeast of Newnes, formed by the ...
.


Deaths and disappearances

Fatalities include one elderly man who lost control of his vehicle in heavy rain, colliding into a tree in Mona Vale, and a
bodyboarder Bodyboarding is a water sport in which the surfer rides a bodyboard on the crest, face, and curl of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore. Bodyboarding is also referred to as ''Boogieboarding'' due to the invention of the "Boogie ...
in his 60s who disappeared on the Coffs Harbour seashore and is presumed to be dead. On 24 March, two more fatalities were confirmed; In Glenorie, the body of a 25-year-old man was found trapped in a car approximately 6 metres (20 feet) underwater, whilst in
Canungra Canungra is a rural town and locality in the Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia. In the , the locality of Canungra had a population of 1,229 people. Geography Located in South East Queensland, Canungra is situated in the Gold Coast hint ...
, the body of a 38-year-old was found in an overturned ute in rapid floodwaters. An elderly woman was missing since March 26 after her car was found submerged in the waters. Her body was later recovered.


Extent


Gold Coast and Logan Area

This region, including nearby Logan and Scenic Rim catchments recorded over of rain in just a few hours in the late night of 22 March 2021. This led to major flooding of both the Logan and Albert Rivers, where on the next day, with Gold Coast City Council announcing an evacuation notice to all residents on two of its roads, Crest Hill Drive and nearby Lanes Road in the suburb of Wongawallan. Nearby 8-hour rainfall totals on 22 March 2021 include Carbrook with and
Springbrook Springbrook may refer to: Places Australia * Springbrook, Queensland ** Springbrook National Park, Queensland ** Springbrook State School, a heritage-listed building in the park ** Springbrook Road, a heritage-listed road Canada * Springbrook, ...
with .


Mid North Coast

In parts of the of this region, more than of rain had fallen in just two days causing lowland areas to flood and be reminiscent of inland seas. In
Taree Taree is a town on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of 26,381, and is the centre of a significant agricultural distr ...
, a house was found drifting on the
Manning River Manning River (Biripi: ''Boolumbahtee''), an open and trained mature wave dominated barrier estuary, is located in the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts of New South Wales, Australia. It is the only double delta river in the ...
after heavy rainfall caused by this
nor'easter A nor'easter (also northeaster; see below), or an East Coast low is a synoptic-scale extratropical cyclone in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The name derives from the direction of the winds that blow from the northeast. The original use ...
. Additionally, many evacuations were ordered throughout the region, including Kempsey, Wingham, Dumaresq Island, Cundletown, Laurieton,
Nambucca Heads Nambucca Heads is a town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia in the Nambucca Valley. It is located on a ridge, north of the estuary of the Nambucca River near the Pacific Highway. Its 2021 population was 6,675 (6,327 in 2016 ...
, North Haven,
Dunbogan Dunbogan is a town in New South Wales, Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. ...
, Bulahdelah, Kings Point, Macksville and the low-lying areas of Wauchope, Rawdon Island, Lower Macleay and Port Macquarie. Some towns in this region had received of rain since 18 March, including Comboyne which has registered . The
Manning River Manning River (Biripi: ''Boolumbahtee''), an open and trained mature wave dominated barrier estuary, is located in the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast districts of New South Wales, Australia. It is the only double delta river in the ...
in
Taree Taree is a town on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of 26,381, and is the centre of a significant agricultural distr ...
would end up swelling to 5.65 metres at its peak, falling just short of the record high of 6.0 metres set in 1929. As a result of debris being carried downstream, the Martin Bridge was closed off due to concerns of its structural integrity after being hammered with hay bales, shipping containers and other machinery. All
Qantas Qantas Airways Limited ( ) is the flag carrier of Australia and the country's largest airline by fleet size, international flights, and international destinations. It is the world's third-oldest airline still in operation, having been founde ...
flights in Port Macquarie were cancelled after the airport was cut off by flooding roads. Around 5,500 customers in this region were without power. Furthermore, supermarkets were virtually emptied due to panic buying, with Woolworths in Lakewood being cleared of bread, eggs, meat and vegetables, reminiscent of the
COVID-19 lockdown Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of non-pharmaceutical interventions colloquially known as lockdowns (encompassing stay-at-home orders, curfews, quarantines, and similar societal restrictions) have been implemented in numerous countrie ...
s a year ago, after residents were told to evacuate in nearby North Haven, Laurieton, Dunbogan and Diamond Head.


Hunter Valley

On Saturday 20 March until Wednesday 24 March, flights from and to Newcastle Airport were suspended due to flooding of the airfield. A number of roads in
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...
,
Lake Macquarie The City of Lake Macquarie is a local government area in Greater Newcastle and part of the Hunter Region in New South Wales, Australia. It was proclaimed a city from 7 September 1984. The area is situated adjacent to the city of Newcastle and is ...
, Port Stephens, Cessnock and
Maitland Maitland is an English and Scottish surname. It arrived in Britain after the Norman conquest of 1066. There are two theories about its source. It is either a nickname reference to "bad temper/disposition" (Old French, ''Maltalent''; Anglo Norm ...
were closed due to them being overflowed by floods. Though overall, the Hunter region has mostly been spared from the predicted severity of the storm, with the Mid North Coast being the most devastated.


Sydney

On 20 March, a
tornado A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, altho ...
damaged homes and toppled trees in
Chester Hill Chester Hill, a suburb of the City of Canterbury-Bankstown local government area, is located 19 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is part of Western Sydney, Chester Hill ...
, a western suburb of Sydney, leaving thousands without electricity. Heavy rain flooded the site of
Parramatta Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...
Powerhouse and as well as the Parramatta ferry wharf, which was overflowed after Parramatta River broke its
banks A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Becaus ...
. The
Warragamba Dam Warragamba Dam is a heritage-listed dam in the outer South Western Sydney suburb of Warragamba, Wollondilly Shire in New South Wales, Australia. It is a concrete gravity dam, which creates Lake Burragorang, the primary reservoir for water supp ...
began to spill, which was the first significant overflow of the reservoir since 1990. Because of rising floodwaters, which were not seen since the November 1961 floods,
Nepean River Nepean River (Darug: Yandhai), is a major perennial river, located in the south-west and west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Nepean River and its associated mouth, the Hawkesbury River, almost encircles the metropolitan region of ...
and
Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River, is a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney. ...
were overflowed, peaking at , with
Windsor Bridge The Windsor Bridge or Windsor Town Bridge, an iron and granite arch bridge over the River Thames, is located between the towns of Windsor and Eton in the English county of Berkshire. The Thames Path crosses the river here. The bridge carries p ...
becoming submerged, leading to inundated homes and isolated animals. Some areas within the suburbs of
Jamisontown Jamisontown is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is 56 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Penrith, and is part of the Greater Western Sydney ...
, Mulgoa, North Richmond, Hawkesbury Valley around
Agnes Banks Agnes Banks is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Agnes Banks is 68 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia, local government areas of the City of Penrith a ...
,
Freemans Reach Freemans Reach is a town in New South Wales, Australia. Freemans Reach is located 65 kilometres north-west of Sydney in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It is bounded in the south by the Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbu ...
,
Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, (31 December 1738 – 5 October 1805), styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as the Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army general and official. In the United S ...
, Pittown North, Richmond,
Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places Australia * Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area * Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland **Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
and Penrith were submerged after the rivers burst their banks. Over 2,000 people living in or proximate to those suburbs were evacuated, in addition to many homes and farmlands being inundated therein. Residents within the Warragamba Dam catchment area were on high alert on 21 March after the city's main water source had reached its volume with the communities of North Richmond, Wallacia and Sackville being at most risk. Volunteers filled
sandbag A sandbag or dirtbag is a bag or sack made of hessian (burlap), polypropylene or other sturdy materials that is filled with sand or soil and used for such purposes as flood control, military fortification in trenches and bunkers, shielding gl ...
s for the residents there to protect their homes. The dam had received more than of rain between the 20th and 21st, and more than until 22 March. Sydney CBD received of rain on the 20th, whereas Hornsby had gotten and Picton and Oakdale had , with some areas receiving four times more rain in two days than the entire March monthly average.


Response

Australian Prime Minister The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the federal government of Australia and is also accountable to federal parliament under the principl ...
Scott Morrison Scott John Morrison (; born 13 May 1968) is an Australian politician. He served as the 30th prime minister of Australia and as Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2018 to 2022, and is currently the member of parliament (MP) for th ...
said, "Australia is being tested once again", before addressing, "the terrible storms and floods that have been ravaging NSW for the past few days are taking a heavy toll", where he mentioned that he has been in regular contact with Berejiklian. Morrison had praised emergency workers and volunteers, where he encouraged people in the disaster zones regions to heed the advices and warnings, stating, "for now, our message is very clear to keep yourself safe, to keep your family safe and those around you to follow the instructions of the very competent, professional agencies and bodies and the volunteers who support them." Premier Berejiklian stated, "I don't know any time in the state's history where we have had these extreme weather conditions in such quick succession ndin the middle of a pandemic."
Climate Council The Climate Council is Australia's leading climate change communications non-profit organisation formed to provide independent, authoritative information on climate change and its solutions to the Australian public. It advocates reducing greenho ...
spokesperson Professor Will Steffan stated that intense rainfall and flood events are occurring more frequently due to
climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
.
European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body ...
's
European External Action Service The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the diplomatic service and combined foreign and defence ministry of the European Union (EU). The EEAS is led by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP), who is al ...
activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service – Mapping in order to produce delineation and damage grading maps of floods in the Beaudesert, Bulahdelah, Grafton, Greater
Port Macquarie Port Macquarie is a coastal town in the local government area of Port Macquarie-Hastings. It is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The town is located on the Tasman Sea c ...
, Kempsey, Laurieton,
Maitland Maitland is an English and Scottish surname. It arrived in Britain after the Norman conquest of 1066. There are two theories about its source. It is either a nickname reference to "bad temper/disposition" (Old French, ''Maltalent''; Anglo Norm ...
, Moree, Tamworth,
Taree Taree is a town on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of 26,381, and is the centre of a significant agricultural distr ...
,
Western Sydney Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that i ...
and
Wisemans Ferry Wisemans Ferry is a cable ferry across the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry operates from the eponymous community of Wisemans Ferry on the south bank, to a point on the north bank downstream of the Hawkesbury River's ...
areas of interest.


Aid

A one-off payment of $1,000 will be available for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children who were seriously injured, displaced, whose homes have been damaged or had family members who had lost their lives as a result of the storms and floods. According to SES Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin, the cleanup operation will go for many more weeks after the floods had subsided and well into Easter. The
NSW government The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of New South Wales. It is currently held by a coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Party. The Governmen ...
had announced it was broadening its disaster recovery assistance to cover another 18 local government areas in Sydney. Local RFS had ferried food and essential supplies to residents living in homes that were isolated by floodwaters, along the Hawkesbury River at
Wisemans Ferry Wisemans Ferry is a cable ferry across the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry operates from the eponymous community of Wisemans Ferry on the south bank, to a point on the north bank downstream of the Hawkesbury River's ...
. The Australian Defence Force joined the flood relief effort in NSW on March 23, with 290 personnel deployed to the affected areas. Military helicopters went on search and rescue missions after the NSW Government asked for aid. Scott Morrison visited the flood affected sites, meeting the affected residents in Penrith, where he stated, "It’s heartbreaking to see the damage to so many communities, especially to those who have barely recovered from the bushfires". He announced an extension of a $5 million
loan In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that ...
s scheme for flood-affected businesses up to $250 million in turnover, with no payments needed for two years for the 10-year loan. A clean-up program funded evenly between the federal and NSW governments has aided households, businesses, farmers and local councils recuperate from the floods. Both the federal and NSW governments have also given recovery grants to small businesses of up to $50,000 and grants to primary producers of up to $75,000 where damage had happened.


Dam control dispute

The NSW government cabinet ministers had strong disagreements over
Warragamba Dam Warragamba Dam is a heritage-listed dam in the outer South Western Sydney suburb of Warragamba, Wollondilly Shire in New South Wales, Australia. It is a concrete gravity dam, which creates Lake Burragorang, the primary reservoir for water supp ...
management during the flooding, where Emergency Services Minister David Elliott blamed Water Minister
Melinda Pavey Melinda Jane Pavey (; born 1969), an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Water, Property and Housing since April 2019 in the second Berejiklian ministry and the Perrottet ministry. Pavey has been a member of the New South ...
for not preparing the dam in the context of
La Niña La Niña (; ) is an oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon that is the colder counterpart of as part of the broader El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate pattern. The name ''La Niña'' originates from Spanish for "the girl", by an ...
, while Pavey stated that the dam did not exacerbate the flooding. Premier Gladys Berejiklian, in concordance with Elliot, stated, "you would have had to reduce the capacity of the dam to around 20 or 25 percent which just wouldn't have been feasible." Elliott said that Pavey's unwillingness to reduce levels was because she was worried about the aspect of wasting water rather than saving homes from flooding.NSW government ministers in stoush over Warragamba Dam management amid flooding
by Antonette Collins from ABC News. 21 March 2021
In response to the floods, the NSW government has again proposed to raise the dam wall - this has been under discussion since 2017. The proposal has been criticised as impacting Indigenous heritage and cultural sites in the area. State Emergency Service planner Chas Keys stated that the government should rather focus on evacuation routes and decelerating population growth in the flood plains between Penrith, downstream of Windsor in the valley of the south creek and the valley of the Hawkesbury proper. Western Sydney minister Stuart Ayres supported the idea, saying that a higher Warragamba Dam wall "will have a profound impact on the number of people who would have to be evacuated and the number of properties that would be inundated."


Impacts


Economy

More than 11,000 damage claims were made between 20 and 23 March with the Insurance Council of Australia declaring large swathes of the state an "insurance catastrophe". The worst affected regions were from the mid-north coast towns of Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Laurieton and Taree, and west Sydney in localities around Penrith and the Hawkesbury-Nepean valley. Farmers in the Mid-North Coast had warned that the floods will contribute to higher
food price Food prices refer to the average price level for food across countries, regions and on a global scale. Food prices have an impact on producers and consumers of food. Price levels depend on the food production process, including food marketing and ...
s, since they had caused hundreds of livestock losses (where some ended up in backyards and suburban streets), crop loss and infrastructure damage, in addition to extensive property damage reaching tens of thousands of dollars, particularly in the mid-north coast. The region produces
bananas A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguis ...
,
avocados The avocado (''Persea americana'') is a medium-sized, evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae). It is native to the Americas and was first domesticated by Mesoamerican tribes more than 5,000 years ago. Then as now it was prized for i ...
and as well as 75% of Australia's blueberries. As such, The NSW Farmers' Association has established a flood appeal through its Natural Disaster Relief Fund to assist farmlands to continue operating. Due to the road and rail closures, stock issues became significant for supermarkets in the flooded areas, with both Coles and Woolworths having
shortage In economics, a shortage or excess demand is a situation in which the demand for a product or service exceeds its supply in a market. It is the opposite of an excess supply ( surplus). Definitions In a perfect market (one that matches a si ...
s due to the deliveries of stock being delayed.


Entertainment

Due to the floods, the W-League and A-League clashes between Sydney FC and
Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Competing in the country's premier men's competition, the A-League Men, under licence from Australian Professional Leagues (APL), Victor ...
were cancelled, as well as
Golden Slipper The Golden Slipper Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses run over 1,200 metres on turf at set weights conditions, held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia. It is the premier two y ...
meeting at
Rosehill Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is operated by the Australian Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass ...
. American actress
Julia Roberts Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American actress. Known for her leading roles in films encompassing a variety of genres, she has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and th ...
, her cinematographer husband
Daniel Moder Daniel Richard Moder (born January 31, 1969) is an American cinematographer who has made such films as ''Secret in Their Eyes'', ''The Mexican'', and ''Fireflies in the Garden''. He is married to actress Julia Roberts. He received a Primetime Emm ...
and their children were reportedly put on “waiting for evacuation” in their private property in the Hawkesbury area, although they were not in "direct danger" as their accommodation stood high.


Wildlife

Due to the extent of the floods and prolonged rainy days, a large number of burrowing animals such as
echidnas Echidnas (), sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are quill-covered monotremes (egg-laying mammals) belonging to the family Tachyglossidae . The four extant species of echidnas and the platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs and the ...
and
wombat Wombats are short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupials that are native to Australia. They are about in length with small, stubby tails and weigh between . All three of the extant species are members of the family Vombatidae. They are ada ...
s are feared to have been drowned in their inundated burrows. Continuous downpours and floods are usually detrimental for wildlife, though the degree to which the disaster has affected wild animals will become apparent after the floodwaters subside. Moreover, wildlife workers had rescued kangaroos stuck in drainpipes, animals hit by cars after escaping for safer ground, and as well as turtles and
seabird Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that are adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same enviro ...
s who were swept away from their natural habitat. In the flood affected areas, swarms of spiders and insects (such as crickets and ants), in addition to a few skinks, scarpered into homes to reach higher ground. Those coming in contact with spiders were urged to show empathy, even if they were frightened, as they are crucial to the ecosystem.


Health

There has been environmental
health risk A health risk assessment (also referred to as a health risk appraisal and health & well-being assessment) is a questionnaire about a person's medical history, demographic characteristics and lifestyle. It is one of the most widely used screening t ...
s in flood clean up, with
NSW health The New South Wales Ministry of Health, branded NSW Health, is a ministerial department of the New South Wales Government. NSW Health supports the executive and statutory roles of the Minister for Health, the Minister for Regional Health, an ...
issuing advice for those in the affected areas during the clean-up stage to treat all floodwater as potentially contaminated, since they may be contaminated with sewage and chemicals. According to acting director of Environmental Health, Dr Adi Vyas, floodwaters can contain diseases that could lead to skin and stomach infections, and even serious conditions, such as leptospirosis. He urged those cleaning up to always wear
protective gear Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, ele ...
, including gloves and face masks, and to boil water prior to drinking and for washing
raw food Raw foodism, also known as rawism or a raw food diet, is the dietary practice of eating only or mostly food that is uncooked and unprocessed. Depending on the philosophy, or type of lifestyle and results desired, raw food diets may include ...
. Because of contamination fears, many beaches on the NSW coast closed due to polluted and hazardous water. Surf Life Saving NSW had urged people to be careful when swimming at beaches that are proximate to
lagoon A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into ''coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons'') ...
s, river mouths or waterway runoffs. The floods caused major delays to COVID-19 vaccine delivery in the state due to roads being cut off, where over 1000 deliveries were scheduled. Though Premier Berejiklian told reporters, "I'm not concerned, we will catch that up".Flooding disrupts COVID-19 vaccine deliveries in NSW
by
SBS News ''SBS World News'' is the news service of the Special Broadcasting Service in Australia. Its flagship nightly bulletin is broadcast at on SBS with additional weeknight 'late' bulletins from on SBS. ''SBS News'' is the name of the news app ...
. 21 March 2021.


See also

* Severe storm events in Sydney *
1955 Hunter Valley floods The Hunter Valley Floods (also known as the Maitland Flood) of 23 February 1955 was a major flood on the Hunter River in New South Wales, Australia. They were one of the most devastating natural disasters in Australia's history. The flood ov ...
*
2022 eastern Australia floods The 2022 eastern Australia floods were one of the nation's worst recorded flood disasters with a series of floods that occurred from February to April in South East Queensland, the Wide Bay–Burnett and parts of coastal New South Wales. Brisb ...
* 2022 New South Wales floods


References


External links


EMSR504: Floods, Australia (delineation and damage grading maps)
Copernicus Emergency Management Service Nicolaus Copernicus (; pl, Mikołaj Kopernik; gml, Niklas Koppernigk, german: Nikolaus Kopernikus; 19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance polymath, active as a mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic Church, Catholic cano ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eastern Australian floods, 2021 2021 disasters in Australia 2021 floods in Oceania 2021 meteorology 2020s in New South Wales 2020s in Queensland 21st century in Sydney Disasters in Sydney Floods in New South Wales Floods in Queensland Weather events in Australia March 2021 events in Australia