“It is now too late to leave safely as evacuation routes are likely to be cut off,” the SES said in the order.
“Seek shelter in a sturdy raised structure that can be safely accessed. You may now be trapped without power,water,and other essential services,and it may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you.”
The SES had 25 emergency orders in place across the state on Tuesday afternoon,including in Condobolin and Forbes,where the Lachlan River also crossed the major flood level on Tuesday and was at 10.65 metres and rising at 2pm.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the river was now expected to peak overnight on Tuesday and could reach the 70-year-old record of 10.8 metres,set in June 1952. That would result in the flooding of about 500 homes,as well as businesses.
Hundreds of people have already evacuated low-lying areas of Forbes,which is home to about 7000 people. The town,which also flooded last week,is now cut off and local mayor Phyllis Miller said on Tuesday morning that food supplies were starting to run out.
Meanwhile,furthereast in Eugowra,more than 100 people were airlifted to safety,many off rooftops and out of trees,after dangerous flash flooding inundated the town on Monday morning and cut it off,with little warning.