Some Moree flood evacuees return home

4 Feb 2012, 4:57 pm   -   Source: AAP

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About 500 Moree residents have returned home to survey the damage, but 1100 will remain evacuated for at least another night.

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Hundreds of Moree residents are returning to their homes to survey the damage caused by extensive flooding in northern NSW.

The Mehi River continued to fall steadily on Saturday, with the first 500 of the town's 1600 evacuees allowed to return to their homes at north Moree.

However, 1100 residents would remain in evacuation centres or with family and friends for a third night, the State Emergency Service (SES) said.

"While the river is falling steadily, there are still many areas that are unsafe to return to for the time being," SES spokesman Phil Campbell told AAP.

Some business owners will also be allowed to return to survey the damage, after aerial assessments showed some 300 homes and businesses were inundated in the flooding - the worst in nearly 60 years.

Returning residents were being urged to have inspections made to ensure their homes were safe, Mr Campbell added.

The town and its surrounds, with a population of around 10,000, remains isolated.

Elsewhere in the state, a further 6500 people are floodbound including communities at Wee Waa, Goodooga, Gravesend.

The SES has carried out 18 flood rescues in the last 24 hours, including half a dozen people who were trapped on a shed roof with snakes swimming underneath them near Moree on Friday.

The group was airlifted to safety, but had to leave their dogs behind on the shed roof, Mr Campbell said.

Several supply missions were carried out on Saturday, with essentials including blood and medicines transported to isolated hospitals.

Qantas put on a special flight to Moree carrying fruit, vegetables, bread and milk for flood-affected farmers, a spokeswoman said.

While the worst is over for Moree, the SES is bracing for a second round of flooding through the state.

"We now believe (the floodwaters) will not reach Bourke until early March," Mr Campbell said.

"So while Moree will be clear in two to three days time, we are now assessing how other areas will be impacted.

"These are the floods you set your calendar, not your watch, by."

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell on Saturday told Prime Minister Julia Gillard the crisis was far from over.

It is understood Ms Gillard phoned Mr O'Farrell on Saturday morning to offer the federal government's support and assistance throughout the floods.

Mr O'Farrell warned the prime minister the crisis could continue for months as floodwaters from Queensland flow through the Darling system.

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