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Ted Kelleher’s day ended with no ordinary commute.
After finishing work, he waded through knee-high water and climbed a ladder pitched against his neighbour’s fence to gain access to his two-storey Windsor home.
Without power, a torch and a newspaper will keep him busy until the electricity is switched back on.
“I’ve got a gas stove so I can cook on that. I can boil some potatoes — so there’s no drama. I’m not going to starve,” he said.
“It’s comfortable here. I like it here. We like the area, it’s a good area (with) good neighbours. It’s just a shame.”
Mr Kelleher’s home, in the heart of Windsor, is straddled by two State Emergency Service (SES) evacuation orders caused by the flooding Hawkesbury River, which peaked at 13.93 metres around midday Tuesday.
That’s almost 20 centimetres higher than the March 2022 flood event, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
While Mr Kelleher’s street remains at a warning level, he says he feels safe to return home.
His wife will continue to stay with friends on higher ground.
“Even though we’re surrounded by water, we can’t really go anywhere. This house is solid.”
About 50,000 people have been affected by evacuation orders and warnings since the latest floods began on Sunday.
The SES have seen more than 6,118 requests for assistance since the beginning of the emergency, with 316 of those flood rescues.
The Australian Defence Force has mobilised 250 personnel to the flood-affected areas and sent out two army helicopters.
For Mr Kelleher, the real pain has been in insurance costs.
“This house would cost $28,000 a year to insure against floods,” he said.
“You can’t do that. You can’t pay that.
“In 10 years, that’s more than $250,000.”
Willa Day has lived in the neighbouring suburb Wilberforce for 80 years and like Mr Kelleher, she can’t afford insurance.
“It was $15,000 to insure for flood,” she said.
“It’s impossible.”
Over the past four days, the swollen Hawkesbury River has consistently moved Ms Day further and further from her home.
The last time she checked, the water was just 15 centimetres from soaking her carpet.
But it’s clear her home has been inundated.
While walking down her street to check on it, Ms Day spotted a box of her possessions floating down the Hawkesbury.
“What can you do?” she said.
“Sometimes that stuff happens.”
Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said emergency payments would be available for residents in 23 local government areas affected by the crisis across the Hawkesbury, Greater Sydney, Central Coast, and Illawarra.
“The message is that hopefully the worst has passed but no one knows that for sure,” Mr Watt said.
“It is important that people stay listening to warnings. If you’re subject to an evacuation order, obviously get out.”
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