Historical Severe Flood Events in Melbourne and Sydney - Assignment Example

Severe Flood Events in Melbourne and Sydney 1916-2016 Name Course/Subject Instructor Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Sydney - January 4, 2016 3 Sydney - April 30, 2015 3 Melbourne - December 2, 2003 5 Melbourne - March 6, 2010 5 Sydney - February 12, 2010 6 Melbourne - June 4, 2012 7 Melbourne - December 25, 2011 8 Sydney - June 8, 2007 8 Sydney - February 26, 2006 9 Melbourne - December 2, 2005 10 Melbourne - December 26, 1999 11 Sydney - April 20, 1974 11 Sydney - November 8, 1984 12 Sydney - January 24, 1999 13 Melbourne - May 15, 1974 14 Sydney - April 9, 1998, 14 Sydney - January 21, 1991 15 Melbourne - December 1, 1934 16 Sydney - August 5, 1986 17 Melbourne - February 17, 1972 17 Sydney - February 23, 1955 18 Sydney - December 14, 1916 19 Reference List 19 Sydney - January 4, 2016 Between January 4 and 6, 2016, parts of Sydney experienced rainfall of nearly 255 millimetres that dropped for up to 24 hours. The other regions significantly affected by flooding included Central Coast, South Coast, The Hunter, Snowy Mountains, and Southern Tablelands. The Hunter River was flooded leading to people living in sections of the Raymond Terrace to be evacuated. Significant flooding also happened in the rural parts of Raymond Terrace. Some 70 residents of Raymond Terrace remained outside their in the first night following the evacuation of six streets. About 28 rescues were undertaken from floodwaters. Although much of the flood in Sydney was as a result of an extensive low pressure trough that dragged moist conditions from the tropics, the one in Newcastle originated from Australia although it lacked significant impact as elsewhere as there was an additional system that formed off the Hunter Coast. The mix with the low-pressure system that formed offshore resulted to the huge rainstorm. The floodwaters tore through the centre of the town, dragging houses with it, leading to three deaths (Koubaridis & Brook 2016). The State Emergency Service reported some 2,000 distress calls in the first day alone (Hunt & Safi 2016). The cost of the damage is yet to be documented. Sydney - April 30, 2015 Between April 30 to 22, 2015, Sydney, alongside other regions like Central Coast and the Hunter region witnessed severe precipitation and 'cyclonic winds' that gusted up to 135 km/h from the east coast low leading to extreme flash flooding (Liew 2015). In Sydney, the rain had poured by 230 millimetres in just 24 hours. More than 160 millimetres of rain poured in Wollondilly River for 48 hours, while in the Shoalhaven region, up to 400 millimetres of rain had poured during the same period. Close to 320 properties were evacuated. The State Emergency Services responded to more than 900 distress calls in the region. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the property damage was estimated at nearly $130 million. The floodwaters had damaged homes, trees, cars, and general infrastructure like roads and bridges (Liew 2015). At least three people died after being washed away by the floodwater. During the three-day period the South Coast, Central Coast, New Castle and the Hunter railway lines became closed. More than 80 schools were also closed for safety purpose (Jabour et al., 2015). Four people died from the flood in the Hunter and New Castle. Additionally, up to 200,000 houses had power blackouts (Patty 2015). Melbourne - November 29, 1934 On November 29, 1934, Melbourne experienced 140 millimetres of rainfall for nearly 48 hours. Eastern parts of Melbourne, particularly South Gippsland, also experienced some 350 millimetres of rain, which poured for 48 hours. The floods occurred after the soil absorption rate, the drainage, as well as the runoff failed to dissolve sufficiently intense rainfall. Additionally, the slow-moving thunderstorms were also a major cause, as it deposited extreme amounts of water within a small region in a short time. This led the waters in drains, creeks, as well as the natural watercourses to rise quickly, leading to overland flow of water. The downpour led to flooding, collapsed buildings, landslides and destruction of roads. As a result, 18 people drowned. The buildings that collapsed from the building also killed another 18 people. Some 400 buildings were destroyed by flooding, while up to 6,000 individuals were left without homes. More than 50 families were also left homeless in the outer Melbourne suburbs after the severe rainstorm. The most significant damage was noticed at Kensington, where the lowland streets were significantly flooded. The Maribyrnong River and The Moonee Ponds Creek overflowed with floodwater, as they had their banks broken. The cost of the damage caused by the flooding is not documented. Melbourne - December 2, 2003 On December 2 to 3, 2003, Melbourne experienced extensive rainfall that led to floods in most of the city’s suburbs. Some areas had recorded 100 millimetres on the midnight of the first day. The heavy rainfall caused flooding that led to significant loss of property. The floods, particularly overland flow, caused extensive damage estimated at $124 million (Baker et al. 2005). The storm formed in northern parts of Melbourne, such as Craigieburn, at about midnight. The huge rainfall was generated, as it grew in size before moving gradually to the southern and eastern parts of Melbourne. Significant rainfall was experienced at around 2am on the first day, with certain places reporting up to 100 millimetres of downpour during that period. The flood rose to nearly 2 metres (Baker et al. 2005). One death was reported, after a woman was killed inside her car, which had been washed away by the overland water. A woman was killed when the vehicle in which she was travelling was washed over the road. Several other motorists became trapped on top of the roofs of their vehicles, following the 2-metre height of water, particularly after Eastern Freeway. By December 6, 2003, Melbourne and significant sections of Victoria had experienced severe flooding event and tornadoes that extended for 5 days (Baker et al. 2005). Melbourne - March 6, 2010 On March 6, 2010, Melbourne experienced severe rainfall of more than 100 millimetres, which caused severe flooding. A continually low-pressure system combined with tropical moisture led to 100 millimetres of rainfall. Hailstones hit the Melton suburb in western Melbourne, as rainstorms shifted throughout western Victoria. The gust of wind averaged 100 kilometres per hour was reported at the Melbourne Airport (Tate 2015). At Melbourne's central business district, the streets were flooded, cutting off roads and rail transport. There was heavy flooding in other parts of Victoria like the Great Dividing Range the river basin, which witnessed significant flooding save for the Campaspe River that had moderate flooding. The flood event led to extensive flooding at the riverine and flash flooding on the suburbs to the west of Melbourne. There were also severe thunderstorms, which led to substantial destruction on the suburbs situated in eastern Melbourne. The huge rainfall had happened as a result of the colliding warm, humid air that was shifting southwards, in addition to a cold front that was drifting from the southwest. It wreaked significant havoc in parts of Shepparton, as a result, uprooting trees and destroying buildings. The cost of the damage was estimated at $256 million (Tate 2015). Sydney - February 12, 2010 On February 12, 2010, several parts of Sydney experienced significant levels of rain of up to 332 millimetres that dropped for almost two days (ABC News 2010). The floods occurred after the soil absorption rate, the drainage, as well as the runoff failed to sufficiently dissolve intense rainfall. Additionally, the slow-moving thunderstorms were also a major cause, as it poured large amounts of water within a small region in a short time. This led the waters in drains, creeks, as well as the natural watercourses to rise quickly, leading to overland flow of water. Additionally, the burly air updrafts in the thunderstorms suspended significant levels of rain prior to releasing heavy downpour onto the ground. The rainfall reached intensities of approximately 100 millimetres per hour, as the environment was sufficiently humid to provide necessary moisture to the storm. At the end of 24 hours, a precipitation of 332 millimetres was recorded, leading to severe flooding. Movements of people in several sections of the southeast and northwest were immediately restricted, as they were declared as zones of natural disaster. More than 1,500 distress calls were recorded by the State Emergency Service. Destruction of properties in the western region was estimated to have exceeded AUS$6 million (ABC News 2010). Melbourne - June 4, 2012 On June 4, 2012, some 200 millimetres of rain poured in parts of Melbourne and the Gippsland ranges. Up to150 millimetres poured over an extensive area, with certain places recording more than double their monthly rainfall in a record one day. The rainstorm brought about flash flooding, with the most affected places being the metropolitan Melbourne, Gippsland, Bairnsdale, Traralgon, Emerald, Bruthen, and Lilydale (Victoria State Emergency Service 2012). Hundreds of homes, particularly in Traralgon witnessed severe flooding while several communities situated in the eastern parts of Gippsland become isolated as roads and bridges were washed away by the impact of the floodwater, which was vigorously flowing towards the ocean. More than 100 residents of Traralgon were evacuated after 45 buildings were flooded. The Princes Highway, between Traralgon and Rosedale, was also closed after being flooded. Gust of wind of up to 150 kilometres per hour was witnesses. The wind uprooted trees and power lines, which barricaded sections of the South Gippsland highway. While the water had peaked at great heights, no injuries were reported all through the event, as many people had been safely evacuated from grave situations once they entered the floodwater. The Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) reported about 1,577 distress calls, and oversaw 33 rescues of individuals trapped in floodwater. The damage caused to the infrastructure is estimated to have cost around $10 million (Australian Emergency Management 2012). Melbourne - December 25, 2011 On December 25, 2011 at around 3pm, a huge storm started in northern Melton and transformed into a super-cell in less than half an hour, before heading straight to Melbourne. The rain caused flooding that caused substantial damage to property and road infrastructure. The most affected region included the eastern and northern regions of Melbourne. Thousands of homes that were damaged were mostly in the northern parts of Melbourne (ABC News 2011). More than 2,000 distress calls were reported in the initial six hours by the Victorian SES. More than 20,000 households went without power. The flooding led to closure of the Melbourne airport. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the sum of property damage was AUS$100 million. Power outages were reported in South Melbourne, Essendon, Ballarat, Port Melbourne, Armadale, Toorak, and South Morang. Earlier in February, thunderstorms across Victoria had caused severe flooding in parts of Melbourne, while terrific rainstorm in Mildura recorded nearly 270 millimetres of rain in 36 hour. The most affected regions included the central and north-western Melbourne. Several river systems like Loddon, Avoca, Wimmera and Campaspe experienced flooding (ABC News 2011). Sydney - June 8, 2007 On June 8, 2007, significant rainfall was experienced in Sydney, Central Coast and the Hunter region, leading to sever flooding in the lower parts of the Hunter River (ABC News 2007). The floods resulted due to the slow soil absorption rate, poor drainage, in addition to the failure of the runoff rainwater to dissolve sufficiently the intense rainfall. Additionally, the slow-moving thunderstorms were also a major cause, as it left tremendous amounts of water in a small region within a transient period. This led the water in drains, creeks, as well as the natural watercourses to rise quickly, leading to overland flow of water. This caused severe flooding. More than nine people were killed from the flooding. Later, on October 8, 2007, the region further experienced a tornadic super-cell storm that caused significant havoc. Up to 20 millimetre of rain had poured within the first 10 minutes. Nearly 17 individuals were injured by hail. The cost of damage was approximated at AUS$60 million, with some regions like Lismore being no-go zones. The heavy rain caused the flooding of Lake Illawarra and Nepean River. It also uprooted trees, damaged houses, as well as the rail. The uprooted trees also damaged power lines, leading to significant power outages, particularly in the northern suburbs. The State Emergency Service reported some 1,000 distress calls (ABC News 2007). Sydney - February 26, 2006 On February 26, 2006, thunderstorms and flooding happened in Sydney and Wollongong region. The flooding in the sections of Sydney and Wollongong was because of severe thunderstorms in the evening. The floodwater swept away a woman who had attempted to drive past a flooded land bridge, near Berry. At the coast of Illawarra, considerable levels of rainfall that totalled to about 113 millimetres fell (Bureau of Meteorology 2006). Other areas like Wonhawilli witnessed 110 millimetres of rainfall. Dombarton Loop and Wattamolla recorded 97 and 108 millimetres respectively (Bureau of Meteorology 2006). Severe rainstorm was witnessed in Sydney, leading to flooding in Northmead, Glenmore Park, Penrith, and St Marys. The flooding led to closure of roads, which cut transport and left the areas virtually isolated. In the Glenmore Park, the rainfall recorded was 94 millimetres in a matter of 3 hours (Bureau of Meteorology 2006). Areas like Horsley Park recorded 48.8 millimetres of rain in 1 hour, Homebush 24.2 millimetres in half an hour and Turramurra 40 millimetres in half an hour. Other areas like Avalon witnessed 101 millimetres of rain in 2 hours. The cost of the damage caused is not documented (Bureau of Meteorology 2006). Melbourne - December 2, 2005 On December 2 and 3, 2005, Melbourne witnessed severe flooding after a low-pressure system culminated over the eastern parts of Victoria. The rain fell for up to 163 millimetres throughout the night and during the early hours of the morning, the low pressure increased in intensity before tracking gradually to the west over central Victoria (Bureau of Meteorology 2006). This led the waters in drains, creeks, as well as the natural watercourses to rise quickly, leading to overland flow of water. Additionally, the strong air current moved upwards in the thunderstorms, which eventually suspended significant levels of rain prior to releasing heavy downpour onto the ground. The rainfall reached intensities of closed to 100 millimetres per hour, as the environment was sufficiently humid to provide necessary moisture to the storm. Significant level of downpour was noted in several parts of Victoria, surpassing more than 150 millimetres. Parts of Melbourne recorded more than 100 millimetres, while the Melbourne central business district had more than 120.2 millimetres by the end of 24 hours. Despite the small gusts of wind with low strength, the rain was stormier. The wind turned southeast in the afternoon, followed by heavy rainfall. However, the rain became nastier at 10pm turning south-southwest wards at 110 kilometres. Afterwards, the heavy gust of wind and rain prevailed throughout the day. The cost of the damage is not documented. Melbourne - December 26, 1999 On December 26 to 28, 1999, heavy rainstorm in Melbourne’s northern suburbs led to significant localised floods. In some parts of central Victoria like in Carisbrook, the local catchment area during the same period experienced highest rainfall in over100 years. To the southwest of Melbourne, there was severe flood as a result of overland floodwater movement in the Craigie and Mosquito Flat catchment area. Huge numbers of infrastructure like roads were damaged, along with personal property leading to closure of the Pyrenees Highway (Australian Government n.d.). The storm was abnormally extreme and enduring super-cell thunderstorm. The storm started in Bundeena and moved to the southern and eastern suburbs and to Gosford. The hailstones were nearly 9 centimetres in diameter. Close to 20,000 homes were totally destroyed, while some 100 homes were made momentarily derelict. Additionally, approximately 40,000 vehicles were damaged. The damage to the buildings was aggravated by the strong winds. As a result, the year 1999 experienced one of the most devastating floods in the history of Melbourne city. The Insurance Council of Australia also approximated the extent of damage, based on insurance claims, to around $10 million (Bureau of Meteorology 2006). Sydney - April 20, 1974 From April 20 to 23, 1974, Sydney experienced severe floods in the Blue Mountains and Western suburbs of the city after a rainfall of up to 200 millimetres that poured for three days. The flooding resulted in one death and damage of property, which was estimated at about $98 million. By April 24, 1947, the heavy downpour had caused severe flooding, which destroyed the city’s western suburbs, as well as the Blue Mountains (UNSW n.d.). The floods occurred after the soil absorption rate, the drainage, as well as the runoff failed to dissolve sufficiently the intense rainfall. Moreover, the lethargic thunderstorms were the chief cause, as the thunderstorm dropped excessive amounts of water in a restricted area in a short period, as a result leading to the rise of the waters in drains, rivers, and creeks. In whole, these contributed to overflow of water on land flow. At the end of the three-day rainfall, the rain was estimated to have poured by nearly 200 millimetres. One person was drowned, after being swept away by floods. The cost of insurance to repair some of the damages was estimated at 20 million, which can be normalised to have cost $509 million as of 2011 (Australia n Emergency Management n.d.). The flood was at a height of 7.5 metres (UNSW n.d.). Sydney - November 8, 1984 On November 8, 1984, a heavy torrent was experienced in Sydney, which caused flooding in the city. The downpour resulting from a slow-moving thunderstorm was significant, leading to the failure of the urban drainage system in the northern and eastern parts of the city. It also caused widespread damage to vehicles and homes (Australian Government n.d.). The most affected areas included the central business district. The rain poured for 24 hours, and was recorded as 248 millimetre. The Sydney Botanic Gardens experienced a rainfall of 235 millimetres. The flooding event held one of the highest records for the city’s rainfall at a single hour of 120.3 millimetres, as recorded at Observatory Hill. The Observatory Hill reported a rainfall of 196 millimetres in just three hours (Australian Government n.d.). Because of the expansive extent of the city that was paved at the time, much of the rainstorm was a flood run-off, which caused damage to properties along the Harbour. Thousands of houses become flooded, while hundreds of residents of the city were evacuated. The eastern suburbs of the city were severely affected by the severe thunderstorms, which led to flash flooding. Among the severely affected suburbs included Kensington, Moore Park, Bondi and Rose Bay (Australian Government n.d.). The estimated cost of damage was AUS$132 million (Australian Emergency Management n.d.). Sydney - January 24, 1999 On January 24, 1999, severe flooding occurred in Sydney after a severe thunderstorm that developed in the Greater Sydney region in the early hours of the morning. Additionally, shallow trough in the humid easterlies mixed with low-pressure system had presented the required conditions for development of the storm (Bureau of Meteorology 2000). Huge rainfall was witnessed in the eastern areas of the Metropolitan region at around 7:30 am. The area that was mostly affected by flooding included the Randwick local council region. An additional storm generated torrential rain that poured over certain suburbs in the north, leading to extensive damage to properties, in places like Berowra Heights. The Berowra Heights witnessed a rainfall of up to 141 millimetres that poured for 24 hours. In Randwick, rainfall of up to 74 millimetres was recorded. It poured for nearly 24 hours. In Sydney Airport, rainfall of about 60 millimetres was recorded, while in Little Bay, rainfall of 117 millimetres was recorded between 7am and 10am. The key northern highway was also extensively destroyed. The State Emergency Service reported more than 200 distress calls during the flooding (Bureau of Meteorology 2000). The costs of the damage caused, in terms of insured loss, was $1.7 billion. As a result, the year 1999 experienced one of the most costly damages from natural disasters in the history of Sydney (RMS 2009). Melbourne - May 15, 1974 On May 15 and 16, 1974 a rain of about 110 millimetres fell on the Port Phillip catchment in the north–western parts of Melbourne for 48 hours, at the Maribyrnong River. Just about 70 millimetres of the rain had poured down for 17 hours (Melbourne Water 2005). The flooding was an outcome of the slow soil absorption rate and poor drainage system in the face of excessive rainstorm. At the same time, the slow-moving thunderstorms also dispersed large amounts of water in the Port Phillip catchment within a short time. This led the waters in Maribyrnong River to rise quickly, leading to overland flow of water. Additionally, the burly air updrafts in the thunderstorms suspended significant levels rain prior to releasing heavy downpour onto the ground. This caused severe flooding, becoming the largest on the Maribyrnong River, as it covered nearly 385 hectares of land, from the Maribyrnong Township to as far as Dynon Road Bridge, which were covered in floodwaters that rose to about a half metres high. More than 120 houses were destroyed, while some 50 commercial buildings were flooded. The State Emergency services evacuated undocumented number of residents of the Maribyrnong Township. The extent of damage remains undocumented (Melbourne Water 2005). Sydney - April 9, 1998, On April 9 to 10, 1998, Sydney witnessed huge rainfall and thunderstorms in the Sydney Metropolitan area, leading to severe flooding. One person was killed by the floods. Some 5,000 houses were affected by blackouts. The total damage from the flooding was estimated to have cost nearly $10 million (Bureau of Meteorology 2000). The rain fell for nearly 48 hours. The affected areas included Belrose, where rain poured by up to 293 millimetres, Observatory Hill 239 millimetres Avolon 209 millimetres, and Frenchs Forest 260 millimetres (Bureau of Meteorology 2000). Again, on August 17, 1998, Sydney experienced heavy rainfall and flooding, alongside other regions, such as Wollongong. A trough of low pressure that ran along the southern and central New South Wales coast offered good conditions for huge rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms. As a result, all the major roads and train lines were affected by floods and mudslides, which also significantly affected the infrastructure. In parts of northern Wollongong, flood destroyed some 50 houses, while those on the seaside were dislodged (Bureau of Meteorology 2000). In parts of Sydney, particularly the suburbs on the beach side, significant erosion happened as a result of the flooding. The State Government is reported to have used up to $2 million to repair the seawall at Dee Why Beach. The Flood destroyed 14 metropolitan roads, uprooted power lines, as well as trees (Bureau of Meteorology 2000). Sydney - January 21, 1991 On January 21, 1991, Sydney recorded harsh thunderstorms that shifted across Sydney’s northern suburbs in the afternoon and Turramurra. Shallow trough in the humid easterlies mixed with and low-pressure system had presented the required conditions for development of the storm. Huge rainfall was witnessed in the eastern areas of Sydney in the afternoon. Certain areas received up to 35 millimetres of downpour in six minutes and close to 60 millimetres in 30 minutes (Bureau of Meteorology 2006). The thunderstorm caused flooding that led to widespread destruction of property in sections of northwestern Sydney. The storm led to one death and caused severe injuries to 100 other people. The thunderstorm was accompanied by hail and a strong wind that uprooted trees and damaged more than 10,000 homes. Additionally, close to 140 kilometres of power lines fell due to the adverse weather (Bureau of Meteorology 2006). The strong wind moved at a speed of between 118 km/h and 230 km/h. The hailstones were about 7 centimetres in diameter. Significant rainfall was reported in most suburbs, like Fox Valley and Castle Hill. It is estimated that the total cost of damage was $226 million (Bureau of Meteorology 2000). Melbourne - December 1, 1934 On December 1, 1934 Melbourne experience torrential rain that started falling from Central Victoria. Rainfall of about140 millimetres poured in Melbourne for 48 hours. However, in the eastern parts of Melbourne, such as South Gippsland, rainfall of more than 350 millimetres poured (Australian Emergency Management n.d.). The flooding resulted from slow soil absorption rate relative to the heavy and excessive torrents that went on for 48 hours. The heavy torrents deposited excessive amounts of water within the Melbourne area, leading to overland flow of water. This led the waters in drains, creeks, as well as the natural watercourses to rise quickly, leading to overland flow of water. The flooding led to submerging of the roads, destruction of houses bridges, and railroads. The storm caused the bursting of the banks of the Yarra Rivers, leading to isolation of some towns, such as the Latrobe River District, Yarra Valley, and South Gippsland, which were significantly flooded. The flood also led to significant loss of crops, livestock, and property. All the suburbs witnessed extensive damage, as more than 400 buildings were destroyed. As a result of the flooding, 36 fatalities were reported. About 6000 people were displaced. The cost of damage in monetary terms is not documented (Australian Emergency Management n.d.). Sydney - August 5, 1986 On August 5, 1986, Sydney witnessed a major flood event for only 24 hours, yet had devastating effects. Rainfall of around 327.8 millimetres poured on August 6, 1986. The city’s western suburbs experienced a downpour of around 254 millimetres of rain (Maddocks 2001). The flood led sections of the city to be isolated, even as transport systems (including rail, road, and sea) were brought to a halt. The heavy torrent caused the western parts of Sydney to be isolated (Maddocks 2001). Many people were not able to get home. Trains were delayed for 5 hours as the Sydney underground tunnels filled with water. Two children were swept away by the floodwater. The flood event resulted from a complex low-pressure system. The rain was particularly huge in the day and evening on the first day, while on the second day, some showers were experienced as the rain started to clear. Tornado was as well witnessed in the Central Coast near the low-pressure system’s inner rim. The rainstorm led to great flooding of the Cox River, George River, and Grose River. Some 1,000 residential houses were destroyed along Cabramatta Creek, Prospect Creek and, Georges River. The damage is estimated at around AUS$40 million (Maddocks 2001). Melbourne - February 17, 1972 On February 17, 1972, central Melbourne experienced one of the biggest floods in its history. A huge storm passed over the city in the late afternoon at around 3.30pm and brought with it a torrential rainstorm that lasted for around17 minutes. The recorded precipitation was up to five times that of the monthly average, which set a rainfall record for the month of February to date, despite being a one-day downpour (BPadula n.d.). The sudden storm poured over Melbourne central business district. The skies were darkened as fierce gust of wind passed through the city streets. The storm started to pelt down at a furious rate, before a rapid storm, water overwhelmed the city drains and flooded the entire streets. The most affected areas included the Flinders St station, which had become virtually a lake (Danno 2014). The rainstorm led all train services to be stopped. The tram at Alexandra Avenue was as well stopped. Although the rainstorm continued for only 17 minutes, it flooded the southern parts of the city. Although the city has been flooded severally, the flood of 1972 is touted to be among the most sudden yet tragic flood event, and since then, significant efforts were put in place to improve drainage system of the city. The cost of the damage in monetary terms is not documented (BPadula n.d). Sydney - February 23, 1955 On February 23, 1955, severe rainstorm started pouring in Upper Hunter Valley over the headwaters of the Goulburn River and flew to Sydney, until February 27. A total rain of 250 millimetres fell in a single day. The build-up and rise of the floodwaters on the river system led to extensive flooding in the whole Hunter River system by some 2.1 million mega-litres, which was sufficient to fill the Sydney Harbour by more than four times (Floodsafe 2016). The floodwater was discharged from the catchment area and flowed towards Sydney by up to 1.5 times the standard annual discharge. As a result, Hunter Valley, Maitland and Sydney CBD were flooded. In Maitland, for instance, the flood rose to a height of 12.1 metres. The floodwaters flew in high velocity, as it flowed to Sydney hence breaking levees, as well as forming floods in the central business district, and its suburbs (Munro 2011). In total, more than 1,800 people were rescued, while another 600 individuals were evacuated to safe zones (Floodsafe 2016). It is estimated that the flood created an inland sea estimated to be the size of Wales and England. Overall, 25 people died from the drowning, 58 houses were washed away while 103 buildings were destroyed beyond repair. The costs of the damage could be normalised to $2 billion today (Floodsafe 2016). Sydney - December 14, 1916 On December 14, 1916, heavy downpour was witnessed in Sydney. While the precipitation amounts remains undocumented, it is recorded that there was a continuous rain all through the city, and other parts of North South Wales, particularly the northeastern parts of the state. Some townships situated by the side of the Barwon River’s watershed alongside its tributaries were significantly flooded. The rain was as a result of El Niños, which had taken root from the northern parts of the city and failed to ease in the coastal parts of New South Wales. The homes at Tamworth were also destroyed, even as the floodwaters burst the banks of Peel River deluged and spread to the lower section of the town. The Barwon River broke at the Yetian and Boggabilla, leading the entire countryside to be underwater. The Hunter River poured into the harbour at a speed of seven knots per hour, muddy waters was also witnessed that rain for miles at sea (National Library Australia n.d.). The flood recorded was at a height of 10.83 metres (Jeary, A & Jeary, I , n.d.).The extent of damage in terms of dollars remains undocumented. 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