Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has provided a harrowing account of how she was forced to swim to safety after the house she was staying in became surrounded by flood water.
Speaking to 2GB's Ray Hadley, Ms Saffin described the chaotic scenes in Lismore as emergency services responded to more than 927 calls for help, and conducted 500 rescues on the Northern Rivers.
"We did swim out of the house, off the veranda because it was coming up" she said. "Luckily we passed a couple of people who were stuck in their houses, elderly people who needed help. My electorate officer went in, in a canoe and got one and we managed to get the other fella and kept him calm.
"But look, I'm worried about people on roofs and everybody, all hands are on deck you know all our emergency services everybody, I'm watching boats go around and we're putting calls out you know saying people are here, people are there, can you help out?"
Ms Saffin said her husband had to be rescued from their home on the Wilsons River and was staying at the evacuation centre.
"He spent all night in water over his chest. And I came to town and stayed with friends, their place normally doesn't go under at all."
She said locations that are normally impacted by floodwater are now going under during this flood.
"Where I was doesn't go under. We looked at it and thought oh my goodness water coming up, you know, sitting on chairs on tables and thought. 'we're sitting ducks let's get out'. And it came down to we're going to swim, and I don't advise everyone to do that, but there was no choice," Ms Saffin said.
"I just feel for the kids. You imagine parents you know, can you imagine?"
Ms Saffin said she had been in touch with the Premier and the Opposition Leader, as well as ministers and Page MP Kevin Hogan.
"So look, everybody is honestly doing what they can," Ms Saffin said.
She welcomed help from the Australian Defence Forces.
"That will give people relief. We also have the ADF here the reserves for 41st battalion and the SES requested them yesterday as well."
