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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/29/northern-territory-floods-major-roads-closed-as-search-for-missing-man-continues
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| Northern Territory floods: major roads closed as search for missing man continues | Northern Territory floods: major roads closed as search for missing man continues |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Major roads remained closed and a search for a missing man continued on Tuesday following floods across the Northern Territory. | Major roads remained closed and a search for a missing man continued on Tuesday following floods across the Northern Territory. |
| Related: Northern Territory floods: people tell of leaving everything behind | Related: Northern Territory floods: people tell of leaving everything behind |
| NT police commissioner Reece Kershaw said more than 600mm of rain had fallen over the monsoon period, and while the trough was moving towards Queensland it was expected some rivers would continue to rise, as well as catchment areas like McArthur River near Borroloola. | NT police commissioner Reece Kershaw said more than 600mm of rain had fallen over the monsoon period, and while the trough was moving towards Queensland it was expected some rivers would continue to rise, as well as catchment areas like McArthur River near Borroloola. |
| Overnight rain closed a 300km stretch of the Stuart Highway between Mataranka and Elliott, and a detour road was also blocked by a bogged road train. It was thought the road may reopen on Tuesday morning but the road remained closed. | Overnight rain closed a 300km stretch of the Stuart Highway between Mataranka and Elliott, and a detour road was also blocked by a bogged road train. It was thought the road may reopen on Tuesday morning but the road remained closed. |
| A search was continuing for a 28-year-old man lost in floodwaters at Peppimenarti on Christmas Day. Continued bad weather has hampered the air and land search, and authorities held “grave fears” for his safety but they remained hopeful of finding him. | A search was continuing for a 28-year-old man lost in floodwaters at Peppimenarti on Christmas Day. Continued bad weather has hampered the air and land search, and authorities held “grave fears” for his safety but they remained hopeful of finding him. |
| About 500 evacuees continued to wait in Darwin after being forced to leave their community of Daly River – also known as Nauiyu. Most had been registered by Monday afternoon, and about 390 were sleeping at the Darwin showground, where a team of government and NGO volunteers were providing food, shelter and safety. | About 500 evacuees continued to wait in Darwin after being forced to leave their community of Daly River – also known as Nauiyu. Most had been registered by Monday afternoon, and about 390 were sleeping at the Darwin showground, where a team of government and NGO volunteers were providing food, shelter and safety. |
| Daly River had flooded many times over the years, and it was time to start talking about levees and shifting community buildings, said Miriam-Rose Baumann, a resident of Daly River currently staying at the Darwin showground. | |
| “I’m almost at the point of losing count how many times this has happened to my and my community,” Baumann said on Tuesday. | |
| Baumann’s house is among those closer to the river level and the water was up to doorknob when she left. While people were concerned at how “rushed” this evacuation was, it was becoming a regular event for the community, she said, and something needed to change. | |
| “We were talking about levee banks at one stage,” she said. “When the river breaks its banks in a good wet season – not a disastrous one but a good wet season – our community becomes an island.” | |
| Baumann said the community was on land leased from the Catholic diocese and had a lot of high ground where new houses could be built. | |
| “I guess it’s just money,” she said. “The school could be moved… We’ve got two schools and one goes underwater every time. | |
| “So why not move the school to a higher ground? You have schools here in the city where when you have a crisis like cyclones the public use public buildings for safety and shelter. So why not? It would save the government heaps of money.” | |
| In the meantime Baumann praised the volunteers at the evacuation centre, providing food and shelter for the hundreds of evacuees. | |
| “I know people have been complaining about coming here in the first place but I think it’s just been scary and stressful…When people have settled they’re starting to think more clearly and say it’s alright here,” she said. | |
| The mood inside the centre had changed significantly since the first couple of days, according to Red Cross centre manager, Alexandra Eaves. | |
| “They’ve been traveling by boat, by helicopter, by bus, so they’re very tired and they weren’t sure what sort of services we were going to provide here. They were worried about their children, their families, their houses back home,” Eaves said. | |
| “[Now] people are finding a home here and getting settled… Everyone’s supporting us and the Salvation Army and the other staff here. It’s great how the community has come together to support us and each other at this difficult time.” | |
| It was expected the evacuees would remain in Darwin until at least the end of the week, when waters receded and damage to homes could be assessed. | It was expected the evacuees would remain in Darwin until at least the end of the week, when waters receded and damage to homes could be assessed. |
| Daly River was expected to see a renewed peak above 15m, and authorities were keeping a close eye on Dorisvale crossing near Pine Creek – sitting at the second-highest ever recorded level of 23.3m – which may impact Daly River downstream. | Daly River was expected to see a renewed peak above 15m, and authorities were keeping a close eye on Dorisvale crossing near Pine Creek – sitting at the second-highest ever recorded level of 23.3m – which may impact Daly River downstream. |
| Andrew Warton, director of NT Emergency Services, urged caution and said while the community is now safe “the event is not yet over”. | Andrew Warton, director of NT Emergency Services, urged caution and said while the community is now safe “the event is not yet over”. |
| Related: Northern Territory floods: woman dies, hundreds evacuated and saltwater crocs in town | Related: Northern Territory floods: woman dies, hundreds evacuated and saltwater crocs in town |
| “We don’t want any more fatalities, we want people to stay safe,” he said. | “We don’t want any more fatalities, we want people to stay safe,” he said. |
| Police had closed all access to Daly River, and officers were remaining in the community to secure homes and valuables, as well as the numerous pets which had to be left behind. | Police had closed all access to Daly River, and officers were remaining in the community to secure homes and valuables, as well as the numerous pets which had to be left behind. |
| Reports of large saltwater crocodiles coming into the community and taking at least two dogs had caused distress among the resident evacuated to Darwin. | Reports of large saltwater crocodiles coming into the community and taking at least two dogs had caused distress among the resident evacuated to Darwin. |
| “The Daly River is obviously populated by a large population of crocodiles,” said Warton. | “The Daly River is obviously populated by a large population of crocodiles,” said Warton. |
| “In any other community where a flood was to occur obviously that’s of paramount consideration – not to play in the floodwaters, not to walk in the water when not necessary, and just to be croc-wise we are in the territory. Unfortunately that’s another risk we face.” | “In any other community where a flood was to occur obviously that’s of paramount consideration – not to play in the floodwaters, not to walk in the water when not necessary, and just to be croc-wise we are in the territory. Unfortunately that’s another risk we face.” |
| Related: North Queensland braces for more floods with forecast of 250mm of rain | Related: North Queensland braces for more floods with forecast of 250mm of rain |
| Kershaw urged residents to take care in the flood regions and not attempt to cross rivers. A woman, reported to be 59 years old, died after the car she and four others were travelling in was caught in floodwaters at Beswick and she was unable to escape the vehicle. | Kershaw urged residents to take care in the flood regions and not attempt to cross rivers. A woman, reported to be 59 years old, died after the car she and four others were travelling in was caught in floodwaters at Beswick and she was unable to escape the vehicle. |
| “You’re better off not trying to cross fast-flowing water because you can’t beat mother nature,” said Kershaw. | “You’re better off not trying to cross fast-flowing water because you can’t beat mother nature,” said Kershaw. |