Lismore floods: Stranded residents’ heartbreaking pleas for help

Elderly women and young children are among those waiting to be rescued during Northern NSW flood emergency.

A pregnant woman stranded by floodwater is among many still waiting for help to arrive in the Lismore region.

Northern Rivers residents have put together a list that could help save lives but has shed a heartbreaking light on the gravity of the region’s flood emergency.

The list has detailed a large number of urgent rescues yet to be carried out.

Among them is a pregnant woman on Booerie Creek Rd in Booerie Creek, northwest of Lismore.

Gaggin Lane in Lismore flooded on Monday. Picture: Stuart Cumming

Another listing says four adults and a dog on a roof on Centre St, South Lismore are “getting desperate”.

In the same suburb are an elderly woman and her son on Kyogle St and another elderly woman who cannot swim on Charles St.

The list suggests a 14-month-old child is awaiting rescue on Charlton St, South Lismore.

There are meanwhile said to be “50 plus” people awaiting rescue at Glowing Cross Cemetery on the corner of Terania Street and Nimbin Road.

At the time of publication, there were 63 urgent rescues pending for Lismore and surrounds, as well as other parts of the Northern Rivers.

This Is Keen St in Lismore. The footage coming through is absolutely devastating. I honestly don’t think our town will completely recover after this flood.
📷- B Rob#lismore#LismoreFloods#floodspic.twitter.com/cDfMJtkiiN

— Korra_Ryan (@Korra_Ryan) February 28, 2022

Aside from the heartbreaking number of people in need of help, residents have been expressing concern about the beloved Hannah Cabinet, which is housed at Lismore Regional Gallery.

Footage coming out of the town shows the gallery well submerged in floodwater.

The $1 million carpentry masterpiece, created by Geoff Hannah, has been housed there for several years.

A Lismore City Council spokesman said the fate of the cabinet remained one of many unknowns.

He said while the height of the water that has inundated the CBD meant damage to the work seemed likely, a number of variables meant staff remained uncertain.

“We just haven't been in to have a look yet,” he said.

River levels at Lismore are around 14.37m and steady, higher than the record flood level of February 1954 - if we don’t already have this

The NSW SES has received 1011 requests for assistance across state - including 408 calls in Lismore, 40 in Murwillumbah and 40 in Mullumbimby according to the ABC.