Three missing, one dead in floods as premier warns of 'more bad news'

One man is dead and there are reports of three others missing in the floods described by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns today as a "natural disaster".

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Minns acknowledged the confirmation that a man's body had been found in a flooded home in Moto.

"That must be devastating for his family and for his community, and that community will take time to rebuild and recover as a result of that death," he said.

READ MORE: Man's body found in flooded home in NSW

"I must also say that we're bracing for more bad news in the next 24 hours."

It has emerged that three other people have been reported missing.

These include a 60-year-old woman in the Dorrigo area, a 25-year-old man who is believed to have driven into floodwaters near Wauchope, and a 49-year-old man who may have walked into floodwaters.

As well as fears of more fatalities, Minns said thousands of homes had been damaged.

"I can report that we're expecting 100mm of rain in the general area of operations over the next 24 hours, but in isolated areas it could get between 200mm and 300mm, which again is not what we need, given the huge amount of rainfall that's fallen in the last 48 hours," he said.

"Both the rivers around Taree and Kempsey are stable, or slightly receding. However, there is more rainfall in the mountains and we can't guarantee that it will not peak again."

About 2500 emergency workers have been deployed, along with 500 appliances including trucks, boats, and helicopters.

Minns said the federal government stood ready to offer assistance, with Defence boots already on the ground.

The SES has carried out more than 500 flood rescues in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions.

SES Commissioner Michael Wassing said many of the rescues overnight and today had involved getting people out of trouble after they drove into floodwaters.

"It's really why we constantly hammer this messaging around, if you can stay off the roads, listen to the warnings, just don't drive through floodwaters, frankly," he said.

He said the rapidity of the changing situation might see some people change their minds and try to evacuate their homes when it was too late to do so.

People are urged to download the Hazards Near Me app, and stay across updates on the SES website.

There are more than 140 flood warnings in place for the region, including major flood warnings for the Macleay, Hastings, and Manning rivers.

The Macleay has overtopped the levee in the Kempsey CBD, with people being moved to evacuation centres, including several hotels.

More than 50,000 people are isolated by the floodwaters, with 9500 homes directly threatened by floods.

And 145 schools are closed today, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting more heavy rain after some places received more than 300mm in the past 24 hours.

More rain is set to fall, including widespread 24-hour totals of 100mm to 150mm, with higher localalised totals of 200mm to 300mm, the SES warned this morning.

Locations which may be affected include Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Woolgoolga, Sawtell and Dorrigo.

NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said conditions overnight had been challenging, with many rescues still to attend to in Taree, Glenthorne, Oxley Island and Moto.

"We've seen continual rainfall and very fast flowing rivers, which when combined with flooded roads have made it very difficult to access some isolated people," Malone said.

"Our crews have been working through the night to complete flood rescues, but our message to people still awaiting rescue, is to remain in safe locations, away from flood waters in dry locations if possible."

Dozens of rescues were carried out overnight, but calls for help continue to come in, he said.

Major flooding is expected to continue at Settlement Point, Macksville, and Port Macquarie today.

Dramatic vision has emerged of multiple rescues, including a man who waited behind while his wife was winched to safety and a woman seen wading out of her house in thigh-deep water.

The town of Taree, about 130 kilometres north-east of Newcastle, is the epicentre of the floods, with dozens of residents rescued from their rooftops and hundreds more fleeing their homes.

READ MORE: The near $60,000 pay cut these Nationals took to blow up the Coalition

"If you are under an emergency warning currently and it is safe to do so, I need you to evacuate now," NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said.

"I cannot stress enough that it is important to heed the warnings of evacuations.

"We've already seen over the past few nights rescue conditions being difficult and dangerous, particularly at nightfall.

READ MORE: 'We really need to get rescued': NSW residents stranded as floods rage

"I cannot guarantee that our crews will be able to immediately rescue people if you do not evacuate and heed the warnings."

One resident, Keith, has lived in Taree more than 20 years and gave an emotional interview to 9News.

"It's coming in the back door, it's going into the front door, the water's pushing all up through the floorboards."

He said it was the worst he'd ever seen.

"It's destroyed everything."

AS IT HAPPENED: Almost 50,000 isolated as 'one-in-500-year' flood crisis escalates

After a series of social media posts asking for help to evacuate, Taree man Sam Halloran yesterday said his family and two dogs were safe.

Halloran shared a video showing his partner being winched to safety while he said he would stay behind to rescue the dogs.

In another rescue at Pampoolah, near Taree, a woman was winched to safety as floodwaters lapped at her house, almost up to the windows. 

She greeted the Westpac Rescue Helicopter with her last possessions under her arms, which she sadly had to leave behind.

"I've got tablets," she can be heard telling her rescuer.

"We can take some small medication, but that's it," he replies.

Natural Hazards Research Australia chief executive Andrew Gissing said the flooding was the biggest on record for the area, describing the deluge as a one-in-500-year event.

There have been more than 40 rescue teams active between the Hunter and Coffs Harbour.

"Our volunteers and partner agencies are working around the clock, prioritising rescues and getting help to those who need it most," SES Assistant Commissioner Storey said.

"We've seen a large number of calls for assistance, and we are doing everything we can to reach people as quickly and safely as possible."

The following evacuation centres were open yesterday:

• Dungog RSL Club
• Club Gloucester
• Club Taree
• Manning Point Bowling Club
• Wingham RSL
• Bulahdelah Golf Club
• Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club
• Kempsey Showground
• Panthers Port Macquarie

Woolworths said all stores from Newcastle to Port Macquarie were open for now.

North of Port Macquarie, the Kempsey Woolworths and Big W were closed after the town was ordered to evacuate.

"With a number of communities along the Mid North Coast remaining on flood watch, we're continuing to closely monitor conditions and the advice of authorities to ensure the safety of our team and customers," a Woolworths spokesperson said.

The state and federal governments activated disaster assistance to communities in 16 local government areas.

That includes: Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens, Singleton and the Upper Hunter.

The funding will cover emergency accommodation and essential items for evacuation centres.

It will also give grants for low-income, uninsured residents to replace basic home items for their standard of living, and to do structural repairs for their homes.

Councils will get money to help clean up and restore public assets.

Small businesses and producers will get funding to replace goods and property, and freight costs for primary producers will get subsidies to replace livestock and fodder.

Drenching not over yet

The Mid North Coast is bracing for more flash flooding with heavy rainfall continuing this morning.

Rainfall totals of between 100 and 150 millimetres were expected today in much of the state's north-east, with totals of 200 to 300 millimetres in some parts.

Due to the ongoing weather situation, Port Macquarie Airport has been closed.

While the focus remains on the Mid North Coast and Hunter, there is also minor flooding in the state's west along the Warrego and Darling rivers.

A flood warning has also been issued for the upper Nepean, Hawkesbury and Colo Rivers for potential minor flooding from Thursday evening.

As the situation is constantly changing, visit the NSW SES website for the latest warnings and advice.