Riverland’s after-hours access to emergency care set to be affected by rising River Murray

There are fears the rising River Murray could cut off towns from emergency hospital care – as footage appears to show a tornado near Hamley Bridge.

The rising River Murray could force ambulances to drive patients an extra 44km to receive emergency care at a medical facility after hours.

It comes as the SES released new flood advice warnings for people living along the Light, Gilbert, and Wakefield Rivers, with a watch-and-act warning for Stockport, north of Adelaide, where there is a high risk of flooding.

#FLOOD Advice MESSAGE issued for . If you are in this area you should prepare for flooding. Move valuables to a safe place and, if safe to do so, clear drains and gutters. More info: https://t.co/6YpM8gou67 ID:364/4

— SASES (@SA_SES) October 24, 2022

#FLOOD Watch and Act MESSAGE issued for Stockport. If you are in this area you should prepare for flooding. Move valuables to a safe place. Consider going to a safer place if the path is clear. More info: https://t.co/9nhwsrIs85 ID:365/4

— SASES (@SA_SES) October 24, 2022

The bridge that links Loxton to Riverland’s only 24-hour emergency department in Berri is expected to flood when the river’s flow reaches 100GL per day in the coming weeks.

Contingency plans are being discussed at a meeting involving health, police and local council.

A collapsed ceiling in Renmark Square shopping centre after heavy rain. Picture Dean Martin

Loxton Waikerie Council chief executive David Beaton said after-hours people were likely to be located closer to those cut-off towns.

“The flat that leads to the bridge is going to go under and when it does it will increase the distance from Loxton to Berri from 20km to 64km,” he said.

“It will be the first time it floods as the bridge was built in 1997 and it didn’t close in 2016.”

Mr Beaton said the closure of the ferry in Waikerie will also cause longer detours for people on the other side of the river.

“When it gets to 100GL, that will take out the ferry and cause people on the other side to take the long route around.”

Mr Beaton said despite the unknown the river presents, people in the area are remaining upbeat.

Flash flooding on Seventeenth St in Renmark on Sunday. Picture: Liz Beech

He said Renmark remained the one town where he had concerns.

“It’s built on a flood-plain and the stormwater from the town drains into the river, so if the river rises higher than the outlets there could be flooding,” he said.

“If we get an inch of rain or more like we did over the weekend, we will see flash flooding.”

Despite the rain easing, the wild weather hasn’t let up with what appears to be a tornado near Hamley Bridge.

What appears to be a tornado has been captured on camera near Hamley Bridge. A flood warning remains in place for the town of Stockport due to rising water levels in the Light, Gilbert & Wakefield rivers. The latest warnings in 7NEWS at 4pm & 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfFYTVQ#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/20jWTHO3Db

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 24, 2022

In Lyrup, Phillip Crouch and his wife Mary realised they were going to get flooded about 9pm on Sunday when heavy rain hit the small town.

Mr Crouch said he knew the rain was coming and thought he was prepared but realised it was worse than he thought when water started flooding the house in “every room”.

“We didn’t expect as much as we got and we were pumping it out to keep it away but then everything came in from behind (the house) and our pumps couldn’t keep up with it,” Mr Crouch said.

“We sandbagged the doors but it still got through the sandbags and it was coming in from the blocks next door.

“The carpets are soaked, the vinyls are soaked, the kitchen cupboards are damaged, all the electrical stuff has been taken off and put on the steps.

“All the lounges and everything has been taken off the floor so hopefully we’ve saved the furniture.”

The couple is staying in their caravan in the backyard until they can clean the damage.

“We had nowhere to go and just got flooded out. We’ll drain the water, clean up and start all over again.”

While parts of the state's mid-north have been kept busy on flood watch, one Saddleworth local has taken to the stormwaters on a kayak. Send your flood videos and photos to 7NEWS: https://t.co/xdDzDcJ6ds The latest in 7NEWS Adelaide at 11.30am | https://t.co/8ftPfFYTVQ#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/ZLmvdcd6bp

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 24, 2022

It comes as the Riverland and northern parts of the state had dozens of call-outs for assistance overnight after severe thunderstorms caused flash flooding.

The Murray Road Ford in Gawler has now been closed due to flooding, with Gawler Council continue to monitor ongoing river levels.

Renmark and Berri had a flood watch and act message issued on Sunday afternoon with more than 95mm of rain lashing the area since 9am, but that has now reduced to advice level.

Residents, already under threat of the worst flooding in more than 50 years along the River Murray, were warned to leave if safe to do so.

The State Emergency Service on Sunday responded to 98 call outs in the Riverland – 70 in Renmark – and 167 total call outs across the state.

SES state duty officer Brenton Clarke said it was a huge effort from volunteer crews inundated with calls throughout the afternoon and evening.

“We pulled together really well to respond to all those call-outs that came through very quickly and we had everything covered off and cleared up by just after midnight,” he said.

“There weren’t any really significant jobs, it was mainly just water entering people’s home but nothing that forced any evacuations.”

The potential for heavy rainfall is expected to ease on Monday morning as the low moves eastwards.

Mr Clarke said the focus for the SES will now turn back to the River Murray.

“Our efforts there are ongoing as we monitor it over the next few months,” he said.

“With the easing weather it’s a good chance for people to repair any damage and ensure drainage points are clear.”

He said roads still remain closed in some areas of the state.

High waters in Morgan, Sunday, October 23. Picture: Matt Loxton

“There are still some locations where we have water on the roads, so the advice is to steer clear until that water recedes,” he said.

“Local councils will be out assessing them today and putting closed road signs where required.”

SA Police said multiple roads in Riverland, Mid North, Clare Valley, and Barossa were closed.

Authorities downplayed concerns the storms would increase River Murray water levels amid fears of a once in-a-half-a-century flood.