NSW storm: Port Macquarie dad could lose home in floods one year on from bushfires

A father-of-seven is anxiously waiting to see if his home survives the once-in-a-lifetime storm that’s battering the New South Wales north coast just one year after he almost lost everything he owned in the bushfires.

Francis Nahow considered himself blessed when his home survived the horror 2019/2020 fire season.

He was forced to flee his property in Harrington on the Manning River on the state’s mid-north coast as the blaze neared closer. 

The flames that once threatened the Beach Street property were this week replaced by water – and plenty of it.

A father-of-seven is anxiously waiting to see if his home survives the once-in-a-lifetime storm that’s battering the New South Wales north coast just one year after he almost lost everything he owned in the bushfires

Hastings River (pictured) in Port Macquarie was flooded by Saturday afternoon

Waterbombing helicopters were brought in to drop water on bushfires in Harrington, where Mr Nahow lives

Mr Nahow spent much of Saturday at his home alongside his mate Rob McPherson – a Rural Fire Service volunteer who defended and ultimately saved his home in November 2019, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The duo were again using a pump and a hose as they tried to redirect water from his back porch to a nearby drain.

Their efforts were working – but with heavy rainfall expected to batter the coast for at least the next five days, they’re not certain they’ll be able to keep on top of it. 

Mr Nahow’s story is not isolated. An hour north in Wauchope, residents experienced some of the most devastating bushfires. 

Of more than 500 homes lost across the state, dozens were in the vicinity, and locals are now experiencing some of the worst of the flooding, as well.

Yellow areas are subject to a Bureau of Meteorology severe weather warning of heavy rain and damaging winds for Sunday. The marked locations are subject to evacuation orders or warnings

In Wauchope, residents experienced some of the most devastating bushfires. Of more than 500 homes lost across the state, dozens were in the vicinity, and locals are now experiencing some of the worst of the flooding, as well

Entire towns have been submerged in water as a result of the wild weather, storms and flooding

An SES volunteer in the region described the situation as ‘catastrophic’ in the area when speaking to a local shop assistant.

‘He came in here and said he’d had enough of seeing homes float down the river,’ the shop assistant said. ‘He said there were a lot of homes destroyed up there.’ 

Parts of Port Macquarie received 400mm of rain in the 24 hours to Saturday afternoon while further south in Taree, locals are experiencing floods rivalling its worst on record 92 years ago.

Nine evacuation centres opened to cope with the influx of those left homeless by the crisis – seven on the mid-north coast and two in the Hunter region.

The Bureau of Metereology warned heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Sydney Metropolitan, Illawarra, and Central Tablelands districts.

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Pictured: A firefighter extinguishing the remnants of a blaze in Possums Brush on the mid north coast

Parts of the mid north coast are already flooded – and rain is expected to last for at least five days

Floodwaters engulfed the Lady Nelson Wharf on the Hastings River on Saturday

While there have been no reports of fatalities, experts warn localised flooding is life threatening and to follow authorities advice. 

Roads are being closed and cut off state-wide, making it difficult for emergency services to access regions which may be hard hit.    

Major flood warnings were issued for North Richmond, Windsor and Sackville north-west of Sydney for early Sunday morning, and evacuation orders issued for Hawkesbury River at Grono’s Point and Pitt Town Bottoms, and low lying parts of North Richmond.

The once-in-a-century rain storm has already caused the evacuation of 17,000 people across New South Wales, and caused severe flooding on the state’s mid-north coast and in the Sydney metropolitan region.

Senior BoM climatologist Agata Imielska said Greater Sydney could expect about 100mm of rain during the next 24 hours, but the lower Blue Mountains will likely peak at 200-300mm.

A car is left stuck in raging floodwater at the Audley Weir in the Royal National Park south of Sydney

Port Macquarie was almost underwater as the town was lashed with a huge downpour of rain overnight