Current Emergency Events

For up-to-date information on weather warnings, please check the Bureau of Meteorology website here. 

Road Closures

For up-to-date road closures, please click here.

Flood Support and Information

SES

Requests for assistance can be made by calling the NSW SES on 132 500.

• State Emergency Services (SES)
• NSW SES Recovery Guide

Other Emergency Services

• Live Traffic
• Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
• Water NSW
• Rural Fire Service
• Resilience NSW
• Office of Small Business
• Local Land Services

Essential Energy

Phone 13 20 80 for asset damage and concerns

• Flood Safety
• Reconnecting after Flooding

Health NSW

• Staying healthy during and after floods
• Flooding and onsite wastewater systems
• Cleaning rainwater tanks after floods or storms
• Dealing with mould
• Private water supplies after floods or storms

Mental Health

• Kids Help Line – Phone Service
• NSW Mental Health Line – Phone Service
• Rural Adversity Mental Health Program

Livestock and Animals

• Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline | 1800 814 647 | [email protected]
• What I will do with my animals during an emergency
• Get Ready Animals | NSW State Emergency Service

Mosquitos

Cobar Shire Council is alerting the community to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus has been detected in samples from commercial pig farms throughout southern and western NSW indicating the virus is likely circulating in the mosquito population.

JE is a mosquito borne disease that may affect animals, including pigs, and humans. The virus is spread by mosquito bites. It is really important to protect yourself from mosquito bites as mosquitoes can spread viruses.

Less than 1% of people infected with JE experience symptoms, which typically include fever, joint pain, and rash. Occasionally, JE can cause severe a neurological illness with headache, convulsions and reduced consciousness.

The best way to avoid infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Simple actions to avoid mosquito bites include:

• Cover up as much as possible with light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and covered footwear when outside.
• Use an effective insect repellent on exposed skin and reapply within a few hours. The best mosquito repellents contain Diethyl Toluamide (DEET), Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Use insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units (indoors) and mosquito coils (outdoors) to clear rooms or repel mosquitoes from an area.
• Cover all windows, doors, vents and other entrances with insect screens.
• Remove any water-holding containers outside the house where mosquitoes could breed.

NSW Health can provide further information on mosquito-borne disease and ways to protect yourself.

Fact sheets on specific mosquito-borne diseases, including Japanese encephalitis Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus, are also available on Vector borne disease fact sheets.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA has provided information about how to keep safe after flooding, what to do with waste material and hazardous materials, and how to clean a flood-affected property. Click here to view their storm and flood updates. 

• Asbestos in flood-affected areas
• Water safety around flood waters
• Dealing with flood mud
• Household and hazardous chemicals in flood-affected areas
• Repairs to flood impacted roads using excavated materials

Insurance

The Insurance Council of Australia has advised of what to do if your property has been impacted by flood and storms:

• Start the clean-up but first take many photos or video of damage to the property and contents/possessions to support an insurance claim.
• Remove from the property any water damaged items like soft furnishings and carpet that may pose a health risk. Take photos of the damaged items to support an insurance claim and then dispose of the items.
• Make a list of each item damaged and add a detailed description, include brand, model, and serial number if possible.
• Speak to your insurer before you attempt or authorise any building work, including emergency repairs, and ask for the insurer’s permission in writing. Unauthorised work may not be covered by your policy.
• Keep items that could be repaired unless they pose a health risk.

Disaster Recovery and Assistance

• Disaster Recovery / Assistance Funding
• Rural Financial Counsellors
• Flood donations