Thousands of people across NSW have been evacuated as the state experiences a once in 100-year flood event.

Evacuation orders were issued for people in low lying parts of western Penrith, Jamisontown and the northern part of Mulgoa as the Nepean River rose.

Residents along the Hawkesbury River are on high alert, as flooding reaches levels not seen for 60-years.

Large parts of the NSW Mid North Coast remain submerged with 13 evacuation centres set up across the state including on the Mid North Coast, the Hunter Valley, and parts of the Richmond and Hawkesbury community.

The SES has performed more than 800 flood water rescues since the weather system set in and more than 150 schools have been affected by closures.

Full list of school closures HERE

Prepare to Evacuate Warnings are in place for Greystanes, Wetherill Park, Clarendon, Londonderry, Windsor CBD, south Windsor, Riverstone, Schofields, Quakers Hill, Wilberforce, Vineyard, Mulgrave and McGraths Hill.

NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey told Jim Wilson the Hawkesbury-Nepean is a “key focus”, but the Mid North Coast is also “getting a second punch”.

Inland NSW and the South Coast are also likely to feel the effects of continuous rain over the coming days.

“The key message from the SES to all communities in the state is be aware, be vigilant, know your local risk.”

Click PLAY below to hear the latest update

K&J Superior Meats owner Troy Crilley told Deborah Knight he was separated from his wife and children after being evacuated.

“We’ve had the shop for 20 years and you always have a lot more time to prepare. [We’ve] never seen it come up that quick.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full story

Resilience NSW Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told Jim Wilson while the impact on property is terrible, the toll could be far worse.

“Our focus must remain with the SES and their leadership at this extraordinary, complex event.

“We’ve seen wonderful responses from the community in heeding the SES advice, heeding those warnings, and getting out of harm’s way.

“It’s so good to hear no loss of live, and no serious injuries or people unaccounted for.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Ben no formal request has been made for Defence Force assistance but they remain on stand by.

“We expect later today we will start getting requests for recovery operations.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott told Jim Wilson he’s in no rush to call in the ADF.

“What frustrates me … on the back of a career in the military, all the armchair generals jump up and down saying ‘well we should bring in the military’.

“When it comes to a bushfire for example, the military don’t have fire trucks. When it comes to storms and floods … they don’t have fast rescue flood teams that we need.

“What they can provide, very very effectively, is logistics support … aviation support … [and] transport assets.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud explained to Jim the NSW government has been liaising with Defence from the start of the crisis, and the Force are ready to act as soon as they’re called on.

“We’re now getting to the juncture where NSW is doing some scoping work about how the Defence Force could be used, whether that be for heavy lifting; aerial lifting.

“There’s a lot of planning going on at the moment, around what’s needed in the here and now, and … when the waters abate.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

The bulging Nepean River at Penrith. The river bank is usually along the other side of the trees. @2GB873 pic.twitter.com/TQnrHBRkYj

— Clinton Maynard (@ClintMaynard2GB) March 21, 2021

Endeavour Energy Spokesperson Scott Ryan told Ben 17,000 people were left without power over the weekend.

“We’ve been able to restore supply to about 94 per cent of those impacted.”

He warns more outages could occur.

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview

Image: Getty/Jenny Evans