Oiled‑Wet Sydney: The Day the City Got a Big Splash
A Night of Evacuations
Yesterday, March 2, tens of thousands of Sydneysiders were instructed to ditch their homes and go by boat or bus as the city’s western fringe turned into a natural pool. The rain‑storm from Queensland was so heavy that the government almost had to declare the Hills‑Hills list as a “water‑zone”.
Why People Are Kicking It (and Turning to the Sea)
- 13 people lost comfort < 20 min into the flood – mostly in Northern NSW town Lismore, where roads were submerged and power lines vanished.
- Two elderly ladies, both in their 80s, and a man in his 70s were found at the bottom of their beds. Another unfortunate fellowl, who didn’t know that the street could become a floating venue, was literally airborne.
- One 93‑year‑old lady floated on a mattress just 20 centimetres from the ceiling – a satellite view that would make a Disney movie blush.
- Janelle Saffin (age 67), a state MP, swam her way out of a rising house, flashing confidence to the camera – “Turned into a human canoe” she laughed.
Water Wreaking and Other Roll‑On, Roll‑Off Actions
In Penrith, water levels climbed steeply along the Nepean River, eclipsing the last 60‑year flood record. The Warragamba dam started draining, and the big‑compost‑party of floods covered suburban streets in that final swoosh. Residents were warned to “be ready for a boat‑down.”
First‑Rescue Heroes & Personal Accounts
- Police officer Rob, who was ferrying a boat, dove through a flooded window to save the 93‑year‑old on a “boogie board”.
- Military helicopters were on duty, pulling people out from rooftops like they were stuck in a personal “air‑bath”, while drivers and marsupials (yes, we’re talking animals) were yanked from a bridge across the water.
- Cassie Skillings’ story: “We got trapped, then shipping containers started smashing the bridge. I called 000, and the dispatcher said desperately, ‘we can’t do anything’ – talk about a sweep of chaos.”
Emergency Head‑Quarters & Disasters
Premier Dominic Perrottet hopped onto a private jet to scout the flooded towns and declared 17 local government areas as “disaster zones,” reflecting the crisis’s unprecedented scale. The message to residents: if the emergency crew shows a sign, take it seriously and evacuate, they read, “It’s slippery, but still safer than staying.”
What Experts Think (and Why It’s No End in Sight)
National Climate Change Review raised the alarm: scientists have warned of “supercharged” weather for decades, yet the country remains unprepared. Hilary Bambrick from QUT highlighted that Australia’s #3 climate milestone hasn’t aged well: better to adapt or beware.
Tomorrow’s Outlook
The British saying “it’s not over until it’s over” applied perfectly – the forecast predicts months of rain for the near future. NSW emergency services minister Stephanie Cooke said “The impact is massive (hundreds of thousands of people affected). This is not a short‑fuse situation.”
Bottom Line
If you’re in southern Sydney, ride up a hill, head to a botanical nursery, or just stay in a dry house, remember that the difference between a ripple or a whirlpool is just one decision.
