Macksville flood: Firefighters calm rising flood panic

Amy Jarrett was “freaking out a bit” as flood waters rose on both sides of her Macksville home. How the night played out.

Amy Jarrett was beside herself as flood water rose on two sides of her home on Jellico Street, at Macksville. Picture: Chris Knight

A young Mackville mum feared the worst as floodwater crept up on her home from two sides on Wednesday night.

Amy Jarrett is as local as they come but hasn’t resided long at the flood-prone Kings Point area and was in Queensland in March 2021 when the streets went under in a torrent.

“We had an evacuation notice but it didn’t get to an actual evacuation,” Ms Jarrett said.

The old Pacific Highway through the heart of Macksville was closed to traffic on March 31 due to flood water across the road. Picture: Chris Knight

“The fire brigade came and knocked on every door (in Jellico Street) and just wanted to know who was staying and how many would be in the house.

“I felt better after that because I had been freaking out a bit with the kids and having not been in a big flood before.”

The homes down one side of Jellico Street were caught in a pincer - as the Nambucca River threatened their backyards while storm water surged from their front.

Rural Fire Service volunteers wash down the street outside the Macksville Ex-Services Club on March 31, 2022. Picture: Chris Knight

Pennie lives at the same home as Amy, and has been at the address for 24 years.

Like many of those who call Kings Point home, Pennie has seen her share of floods.

“Every (garbage) bin was floating in the street this morning and no one knows which bin is theirs,” she said.