Forbes flood: Residents stranded in town as they wait for the floodwaters to subside

"There's people way worse off than us," Sally Perry said.

Forbes residents Mrs Perry and her husband Pip Perry are among thousands of people in the NSW Central West, who have fled as floodwaters engulfed their homes, businesses and communities.

An emergency evacuation order is in place for many towns in the area, including Forbes, Condobolin and Gooloogong.

Earlier this week in Eugowra, also in the Central West, Dianne Smith, 60, drowned in floodwaters, Ljubisa 'Les' Vugec, 85, has been missing since a wall of floodwater inundated the tiny community on Monday.

On Thursday, police called for the community's help after the body of a man was spotted floating in floodwaters in Eugowra.

By comparison the Perrys say they've been very lucky.

Their home has flooded twice this month, the first time the Lachlan River river inundated the lower level of their home, with water seeping into their garage and laundry.

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This time they're not so sure. They fled their rural property just outside Forbes a few days ago, as the river surrounded their home and they're now staying with relatives in town.

"At that stage, the water in the river hadn't come over the levee, but it was rising quickly," she said.

"The access road had been inundated, there was water lapping at the car as we left."

They had only just finished cleaning up from another flood earlier this month thanks to the help of son Ben Perry and grandchildren Max, 15, and Rupert, 13, who'd travelled from Sydney to assist.

When the Perrys built their home by the Lachlan River in 2006 it was supposed to be safe from floods.

Historical flood records for Forbes showed a 60 centimetre levee above the river bank and building their home 1.2 metres above ground level should have made it safe from floodwaters.

History has been proved wrong with this flood.

To add to the clean up cost, the Perrys didn't realise flood damage was not covered under their home and contents insurance.

As rescue helicopters continued to buzz overhead during the interview, Mrs Perry said the flood emergency had brought her town closer together.

"Everybody's got anecdotes of where the water's come," she said.

She feels she could knock on any door to say she needed help, and that help would be given.

"I'm worried but I'm philosophical, because we've had a flood just before and got through it," she said.

Overnight in Forbes, 14 people were rescued from a motel and three from a home over Tuesday night as floodwaters continued, with a peak of 10.8m expected on Thursday.