Lismore floods: Greg and Helen Brand, Shane Pruul exhausted as second major flood expected

Business owners in flood-ravaged Lismore are “physically, mentally and financially drained” after a second major flood event looked set to threaten the town in a month.

Business owners in flood-ravaged Lismore are “physically, mentally and financially drained” after a second major flood event looked set to threaten the town in a month.

As rain battered down on the region, which is still in recovery mode, locals who had been hoping for the best, were on Tuesday fearing the worst.

Business owners, some who have been operating for decades, feared another flood could cause them to shut permanently.

The Penny Man on Molesworth St in Lismore, which is run in partnership by Mike Bailey and John Spence has lost more than $5 million in stock this month.

Everything from priceless stamps and coins to vintage posters were washed away never to be seen again.

One of Mr Spence’s best mates and volunteers Shane Pruul can only sit and watch as the empty streets of Lismore’s CBD is taunted by another deluge.

While rain had eased, and evacuation orders were lifted for the CBD and other areas, Lismore and northern NSW was expected to face flooding, but not to the same level as four weeks ago.

Late on Tuesday, moderate flooding was occurring at Lismore where river levels are likely to peak below the major flood level (9.70 metres) Tuesday evening.

The Wilsons River at Lismore (AHD) was expected to peak near 8.40 metres around 8pm Tuesday, with moderate flooding.

Shane Pruul (R) volunteers at The Penny Man in Lismore and he says the town will never be the same Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

Understandably, business owners and residents have had enough of the rain.

“We are worn out, we are physically, mentally and financially drained,” he said.

“It’s not ending after we all thought ‘well we prepare for the next flood’, and it’s here already.”

When Mr Spence heard the major flood warnings for North and South Lismore on Monday afternoon a realisation came over him that is a chilling thought for the future of Lismore.

‘Help Needed’ is written on the shopfront of a Molesworth Street business as Shane Pruul laments another major flood Picture: Nicholas Rupolo.

“There’s no way people are going to survive now,” he said.

“I don’t think 70 per cent of the people will come back to this town and now the clock’s ticking very fast.

“It’s a ghost own now and it’s going to stay a ghost town.”

Locals were at a loss to explain the freak of nature that destroyed their livelihoods one month ago.

It could take five years to recover, but they may not even get a month.

As evacuation warnings were springing up around Lismore, Brand’s Pharmacy was still getting deliveries on Tuesday morning.

Greg Brand is the third generation in the family to run the pharmacy which has been in the same building on Molesworth street since 1915.

Brand's Pharmacy in Lismore has been in the family for 107 years but Greg Brand says March’s major flooding is a major hiccup Nicholas Rupolo.

He fears they might not be able to hold out to give his daughter Helen an opportunity to take the reins for another generation.

As it stands he is storing vaccines overnight in Esky’s because he has no power.

Helen Brand is still coming to terms with how much damage the natural disaster caused as another major flood prepares to hit Lismore Nicholas Rupolo.

Mr Brand is putting on a brave face and knows he can push passed this major flood but the future might not be so certain.

“It’s like going two steps forward and three back,” he said.

“This is a major hiccup for us because we have to lift (our stock) again but we’ve been able to get back to running fairly normally.”

Tumbulgum in the Far North, Mullumbimby in the Byron Shire and Billinudgel on the coast were ordered to evacuate in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

South Murwillumbah and Condong and surrounds are on evacuation warning.

In it’s latest forecast on Tuesday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology said heavy rain was forecast for Tuesday night with six-hourly rainfalls totals of between 80mm to 140mm possible.

The Bureau is forecasting rain to continue into Wednesday with the possibility it could ease on Wednesday afternoon.

Severe weather won’t be over with gale force winds forecast for the Byron and Coffs Coast.