Dungog evacuation centre set up at Dungog Memorial RSL Club, schools closed for severe weather warning

The 24-hour evacuation centre has been established at Dungog Memorial RSL Club, and animal safe places are also now open at Gresford Showground & Camping Grounds and Dungog Saleyards for producers to evacuate stock.

A severe weather warning was issued for Dungog on Monday afternoon, due to a low over northeastern NSW bringing a band of storms to the area, causing locally intense falls. A minor flood warning has also been issued for Singleton and Maitland for Tuesday.

In a Monday afternoon update, the NSW Department of Education said Clarence Town, Dungog, Glen William, Gresford, Martins Creek, Paterson and Vacy public schools and Dungog High were non-operational due to adverse weather conditions.

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The NSW SES held a community meeting at the Dungog High School on Sunday afternoon to alert residents about potential actions, including possible evacuations, vulnerable roads and sandbag collection.

Dungog Shire Council general manager Gareth Curtis said community members had already started using the evacuation centre on Monday despite no evacuation order being issued yet.

He said the 2015 superstorm, which claimed three lives in Dungog, meant a lot of people in the community were very mindful when severe weather warnings were issued.

"The community here remember 2015 all too well," Mr Curtis said.

"They've definitely learned from that - not just the community, but all agencies."

"I'm pleased to see how much preparedness has gone into this. We're in really good position."

Mr Curtis said updates would be listed on the council Facebook page and website and urged people to heed the warnings and not drive through flood waters.

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