Natural Disaster Declared in Flooded Australian State
Pastor Dale Morgan
Natural Disaster Declared in Flooded Australian State*
By Ed Johnson
Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Australia�s New South Wales state declared a
natural disaster in two flood-affected areas and said almost 1,000
residents had been told to evacuate their homes.
An evacuation center has been set up in Coonamble, about 500 kilometers
(311 miles) northwest of Sydney, Premier Kristina Keneally said in an
e-mailed statement. The Bourke area has also been hit by heavy rains.
Residents, farmers and local businesses affected by the floods will be
given financial assistance, according to the statement.
The Castlereagh River in Coonamble reached a flood level of more than 5
meters (16.4 feet) today, threatening the town�s levee, the Australian
Broadcasting Corp. reported.