School buses have arrived early to transport students home amid the deteriorating weather conditions in Dungog.
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The SES advised Shelton’s Bus Service just after midday to start the school run early to avoid road closures.
Students from Dungog High, Dungog Public and St Joseph’s Primary Schools were bused home early to Wallarobba, Flat Tops, Clarence Town, Glen Oak, Stroud, Salisbury. Fosterton, Alison and Main Creek.
The road to Stroud is already blocked near the Monkerai turnoff and motorists are making their way via Clarence Town.
Ian Robinson, the SES Local Controller said the decision to bus the children home was based on rising river gauges and local knowledge.
“We know the local roads can get cut and we don’t want to see the students isolated so we made the decision with the bus company to get them home now,” he said.
Mr Robinson said the prediction is for the current intermittent heavy showers to continue for the next 24 hours.
The SES doorknocked homes in low lying areas of Dungog on Tuesday morning explaining the expected weather conditions to residents and what to expect.
By Wednesday morning almost 200 sand bags had been collected from the SES unit on Clarence Town Road.
Up to mid morning on Wednesday the SES had received 19 call outs for assistance from Maitland, Cessnock and Dungog areas – predominately for sandbags and few roof leaks.
Mr Robinson has been appointed the incident controller for the Dungog/Maitland and Cessnock areas.
“We have level three flood technicians here, we are all on standby on call, ready to go,” he said from the Dungog SES unit.
“We are not just appearing to be here, we are here.
“We are very sensitive to the unfortunate incident in Dungog in 2015 and want people to know we are here for them”
For SES help call 132 500.
In life threatening situations call 000.