Noonkanbah Announcements
Our emergency operations are in full swing
Our emergency operations are in full swing, responding to the extreme flooding situation in the Kimberley. Our priorities are keeping people safe, resupplying impacted communities and relocating people who want to leave those areas.
Here’s what we’re coordinating on the ground:
Resupply missions of food, fuel and medical supplies are underway. Over 500 food packs were delivered by helicopter yesterday with more to come.
We are working closely with the major supermarkets to ensure supply routes to the Kimberley remain open. Deliveries are also being sent from Perth, with trucks travelling through South Australia and the Northern Territory to reach Kununurra. Coles have diverted groceries from Darwin to Kununurra and additional supplies have been sent to Broome.
Fresh and frozen food has been transported to the local service station in Fitzroy Crossing, with help from Marra Worra Aboriginal Corporation.
We have already relocated 105 people and have plans in place to relocate 86 adults and 38 children from Fitzroy Crossing to Derby today, if it is safe to do so. Our RAC Rescue helicopter, Australian Defence Force aircraft and other contractors have been busy. Over 30 people have been relocated via helicopter from Muludja Aboriginal Community to the evacuation centre in Fitzroy Crossing.
While flooding is receding in some areas of the Kimberley, it is on the rise in others. Hazards will remain for days to come as massive amounts of water makes its way hundreds of kilometres down the Martuwarra (Fitzroy) River. No matter which location you are in, floodwaters are dangerous.
There are reports of people swimming in the floodwaters, and we can’t stress enough how dangerous they still are. No matter if it is moving fast, slowly, or not at all – the floodwater is dirty and will make you sick. Horizon Power has warned people to stay at least 10m away from overhead and underground power supplies. This includes people using boats.
The following Warnings remain in place:
Major Flood Warning – Noonkanbah, Looma, Willare and Pandanus Park, Camballin
Major Flood Warning – Fitzroy Crossing, Mount Barnett and Christmas Creek
Moderate Flood Warning – Broome, Lombadina Community, Bidyadanga Community, Cape Leveque, Derby and Roebuck Plains
Severe Weather Warning – Kimberley, North Interior and Pilbara districts
Stay up to date with official Warnings on www.emergency.wa.gov.au
