1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: We're gonna quickly get into what is going on on 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: the ground right now in Boro Lula, because we know 3 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: that more than one hundred people have been evacuated with 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: the MacArthur River expected to reach record flood levels. Now 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: joining me on the line is the Assistant director of 6 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Emergency Services, Jemma Belena. Good morning, Jemma, 7 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: Good morning, Katie. 8 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me. 9 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time. Now, how many 10 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: people have been evacuated overnight? 11 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: So last night there are about one hundred and two 12 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: people are successfully evacuated from Bora Laura with the help 13 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 2: of the Defense Force to Darwin. They've been accommodated at 14 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 2: the Fosty's Pavilion at the Darwin Showgrounds. Evacuations are continuing 15 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: today and we do ask that the community really respective 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 2: evacuees as they're under a lot of stress and a 17 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 2: frightened for their homes. As you can imagine, the remainder 18 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,319 Speaker 2: of the community have remained on high ground last night 19 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: and are stay and while they are a bit worried, 20 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: they aren't good spirits. Now there were no reports of 21 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: any stranded people nor any rescues required, and the community 22 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 2: has adequate supplies of food and water. Most people have 23 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: been able to shelter at home with friends and family. However, 24 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 2: there are community shelters available if the need is there. 25 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: So you said one hundred and two people evacuated. Now 26 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: where are they all going to be staying, Gemma? 27 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: So they are all going to be at Flossy Pavilion 28 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: at the Dawn Showground. 29 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: All right? So none at Marara at this point. 30 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 2: Not at this stage. 31 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: No, And tell me are more expected to be evacuated 32 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: or are you hoping that at this point in time 33 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: that is all that's required and that people that are 34 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: still in Bori Lula are able to stay push. 35 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 2: We are looking at making more evacuations today as a 36 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: precautionary measure. The Bureau have only really been able to 37 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: give us unverified reports due to gauging issues, so we 38 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 2: are taking that precautionary measure to get more people out. However, 39 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 2: majority of the community are able to stay inside. 40 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: So, Jemma, how come they were only evacuated yesterday? I mean, 41 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 1: we know there was a failed evacuation attempt on Monday 42 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: for a number of residents. How come only yesterday? 43 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 2: Really just comes down to the weather and able to 44 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 2: get the resources into community to be able to do so, 45 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: we're really restricted by the weather. It causes issues to 46 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: the airstrip. And the call was made last night or 47 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 2: the call was made yesterday afternoon as it was the 48 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 2: only time we could get in. 49 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: So, Jemma, how high is that water at this point 50 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: in time and just how high are we expecting it 51 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: to peak? 52 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 2: So right now it's sitting around the sixteen point five 53 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: meter mark. Now, back in our two thousand and one 54 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: it was the last record which was around fifteen meters. 55 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: Are the Bureau is expecting and unverified reports of that 56 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 2: possibly reaching up to eighteen meters today or possibly tomorrow. 57 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: And again we are planning for west cast scenario to 58 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 2: ensure that the community is safe. 59 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: What's the latest on the roads? Is the highway cut off? 60 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: How things are looking? 61 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: Yeah? So the Stuart Highway between Tenant Creek and Three Ways, 62 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: it's only forward forward drive access only with water over 63 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: the roads and areas you need to drive it caution. 64 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 2: The Barkley Highway that has a weight restriction between the 65 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 2: Stuart high Highway and Tablelands Highway and the Victoria Highway 66 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 2: also has those weight restrictions all the way to the 67 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 2: WA border. So we really do encourage people to please 68 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: check the Road Report NT website for the latest road 69 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 2: updates and conditions as they can change quickly. 70 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: Well, gener it sounds like it is all go, there's 71 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 1: plenty going on. Have you still got emergency service volunteers 72 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: and staff in Boro Lula? How are people going that 73 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: are still in Boro Lula and the surrounding community. 74 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we've currently only got local police on the 75 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: around assistant Boro Lula as a result of ex Tropical 76 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: Cyclone Megan. It's currently located about northwest of the Barkley 77 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 2: District and that forecasts still drop a lot of rain 78 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 2: and heavy winders and there's a severe weather warning in 79 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 2: place for those areas. Locations likely to be affected for 80 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: that beeu Tenant Creek, Elliott, Ali, Kurrang and Renna Springs 81 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: and going as far as pe Tree. So with that 82 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 2: will come heavy rain, damaging winds and possible flash flooding. 83 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 2: So we really need people to be aware of the risks, 84 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: avoid any unnecessary travel, and again go back to that 85 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: Road Report before traveling anywhere out and if you must travel, 86 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 2: be prepared for delays well. 87 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: Assistant Director of Northern Territory Emergency Services Jimmy Bellinger really 88 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: appreciate your time this morning. Thanks for having a quick 89 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: chat with us. 90 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:54,919 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.