The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has reported that since Wednesday, when torrential rains began, the Northern Territory Emergency Services (NTES) has been working “around the clock” helping people and trying to maintain services in the town of nearly 29,000.
“The majority of jobs were water backed up in the drains and then flowing into people’s premises,” NTES Duty Officer Ian Smith said about the 75 calls they’ve attended. “We had sandbags across people’s doors and occasionally (we) would have diversions put into place just to stop the flow.”
A flood warning was issued and remains in effect.
The normally dry Todd River is overflowing and tragedy struck Friday when 23-year-old Rowley Hill and a friend decided to ride inner-tubes down the river. The river’s flow was too strong and within minutes both were dumped into the water. While his friend made it back to shore, Hill did not. His body was found the following day
Not all the news in the community was bad. The Dingo Rugby Club went for a pub crawl in the unusual downfall. They dressed in flippers and what ABC News described as “strange headgear” and spent Saturday visiting Alice Springs pubs. On bicycles.
“When the river comes up you have to go for a ride,” rugby player Aaron Blacker told ABC. “This is a special time for Alice Springs.”
By Monday the rains were finally beginning to abate.
