Floods strand Australian  residents for three days*

July 01, 2007 02:50pm
Article from: AAP

MORE than 350 residents in Victoria's deluged Gippsland region could be
stranded inside their homes for the next three days waiting for
floodwaters to subside.

Hundreds of other residents have been evacuated, emergency authorities say.

The State Emergency Service (SES) said residents in the low-lying
Gippsland Lakes region were still isolated and may be stuck for up to
three days waiting for floodwaters to ease.

The warning came after water levels at Lakes Entrance peaked 1.3 metres
above normal last night amid swollen rivers and a high tide.

So far, residents have been evacuated from Raymond Island, Burrabogie
Island, Loch Sport and the caravan park at Hollands Landing.

Authorities don't know yet how many Gippsland Lakes properties have been
affected.

Fresh crews are on standby as authorities expect some parts of Raymond
Island, Burrabogie Island and parts of Paynesville to be isolated for
another two or three days.

SES state operations director Trevor White said rescuers were well
prepared to deal with the unpredictable nature of the floods.

"Rescuers and volunteers are well prepared - with the equipment,
training and support to keep people safe,'' Mr White said.

"Water police and SES volunteers have been patrolling the area, more
than 54,000 sandbags have been filled, and local information channels
are being constantly updated.''

Special 8000-watt trailer-mounted light towers - able to light up areas
the size of football ovals - were set up in Lakes Entrance last night.

Mr White said that while no major rain was predicted for the next few
days, "we aren't in the clear yet''.

"Water levels will continue to rise and fall, so people need to stay on
their toes until the water drains out,'' he said.

"If flood waters don't subside by lunchtime today then the people who
chose to remain behind may need to settle down for the next few days.''

Fresh teams of ground-based observers are monitoring water levels in the
Hollands Landing, Loch Sport, Paynesville and Metung areas.

Hi-tech satellite imagery, aerial photographs and computer modelling are
also helping crews in their rescue efforts.

While tides will continue to cause slight flooding in low-lying areas,
levels are expected to fall gradually as the water drains out to sea, Mr
White said.