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The flow on to rivers will be a priority, according to chief superintendent Burnes, with SES teams placed at key locations.
By 2.30pm on Friday, the SES said it had more than 830 volunteers responding to calls for help, with the number reaching to more than 1,200.
Chief superintendent Burnes said the majority of call-outs were to fix leaking roofs and assist with fallen trees.
“We’ve also had a number of flood rescues but not many, only half a dozen.
“So if people can and are able to check their gutters, and particularly storm water drains to make sure they’re clear to get that water away from their properties, that’d be very helpful.”
Earlier, the Parramatta River overflowed, with the council advising that access would be restricted through the riverside area of the CBD.
Since 9am, the area had received 46mm of rain.
Affected areas include the pedestrian footbridges across the river, as well as the Parramatta Ferry Wharf. Buses are replacing ferries between the wharf and Rydalmere.
On Friday afternoon, residents in the Hawkesbury-Nepean have been warned Windsor and Putty Road are at risk of moderate flooding overnight, with major flooding possible at Menangle and North Richmond from Saturday morning.
The BOM has also advised that minor flooding is likely along the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo Rivers.
Since 9am on Thursday, the catchment area has received 150mm of rain.
Despite the community having experienced a number of similar events in previous years, Hawkesbury City Mayor Sarah McMahon said people were still really anxious.
“Because we don’t know how the next couple of days are going to play out,” she said.
“We certainly have the prediction from the BOM and the SES warning, but you never know how high it [the catchment] is going to go. So we’re sort of just waiting to see what happens.”
She said it was pleasing to see the SES issuing alerts to the community before people were going to bed, so they could be on alert.
“Be prepared, that’s something that we have all learned after the last floods … be informed through official forms of information, and keep your eye on what’s happening.”
Another area of concern for authorities is Warragamba Dam, which is currently at 96 per cent capacity and could spill if the forecast eventuates.
In the state’s central west six people, including two children were hospitalised following a crash due to the wet weather in Mudgee.
Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash on the Castlereagh Highway, about 2pm on Friday, where a ute and four-wheel drive had collided.
The male passenger in the ute, believed to be in his 60s, was flown to hospital with serious injuries, while the male driver, 55 was taken to Mudgee Hospital.
The driver of the four-wheel drive, a 34-year-old man, was also flown to hospital with serious injuries, while his 32-year-old female passenger was flown to hospital with critical injuries.
Two children in the back-seat, aged two and six, sustained minor injuries and taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead for observation.
A crime scene has been established and an investigation is underway.
The band of torrential rain is moving south and will clear from Sydney early on Saturday morning, clear the Illawarra by late morning and clear from the South Coast by the evening.
Source: abc.net.au
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