Katherine is experiencing its worst flooding since 1998, after a tropical low system dumped heavy rain across the Northern Territory over the weekend.Police evacuated more than a thousand people across the territory on Saturday, with helicopters and aircraft deployed to communities in remote areas.
The scale of the operation reflects the severity of the event.Six aircraft and 18 helicopters were used in the rescues.The Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro confirmed that since Saturday's evacuation effort, everyone had been evacuated from Daly River.About 1,000 people are sheltering in evacuation centres in Darwin, Katherine and Mataranka.
The Katherine River peaked at 19.2 metres on Saturday at 10:45pm, the highest level since the devastating 1998 floods.At least 90 homes lost power, and Katherine Hospital was evacuated over the weekend. The damage extends across the wider region;a number of schools remain closed due to the flooding.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the disaster is the sudden and unexpected appearance of crocodiles in populated areas.Police warned of "crocs everywhere" and said "there is crocs absolutely everywhere." Katherine Mayor Joanna Holden told Sunrise that sightings have spiked dramatically as floodwaters rise. "They seem to be everywhere at the moment," she said in an interview.Several locals have reported seeing crocodiles in flooded areas, including in inundated backyards in Smyth Court, off O'Shea Terrace.
The displacement of wildlife reflects a fundamental reality of flooding in the tropics:with rising river levels in the Big Rivers, crocodiles can move into new and unexpected areas, including creeks, drains, flooded roads and other waterways.More than 100,000 saltwater and freshwater crocodiles are estimated to be living across northern Australia.
Authorities have issued stark and repeated warnings for residents to stay out of the water.Crocodiles are most active when waters are fast-flowing, a combination that makes the current conditions particularly dangerous.NT incident control Acting Commander Shaun Gill said police had received reports of people swimming in floodwaters, with CCTV footage showing people jumping off the Katherine Bridge into the river.NT Police Acting Commissioner Travis Wurst criticised a man who "for reasons only known to himself" entered the river at Beswick, east of Katherine, forcing police and community members to risk their lives to rescue him as he clung to a branch.
For residents, the emotional toll compounds the practical disaster.Katherine mayor Joanna Holden said "everybody has a story about somebody helping them out", but for some residents this is their third flood. "They know what is on the other side of this and what it looks like, so for them it's a very emotional time. I think we're going to have quite a few people that are going to need a fair bit of support, not just financially but also emotionally."
The Australian and Northern Territory governments have activated disaster assistance.Immediate Relief payments of up to $611 per adult and $309 per child, capped at $1,537 per family, are being made to assist residents experiencing personal hardship as a result of the flooding.Eligible households can receive up to $8,843 to support the purchase of whitegoods, furniture, bedding and basic household items.
The Katherine River has begun to recede but remains above major flood levels.The Daly River is expected to continue rising towards 15 metres and could remain at major flood level into next weekend.The Northern Territory Government released a #BeCrocwise message to residents, advising people to stay away from the water's edge, not to enter flood waters, and to keep children and pets away.