Family watches cars, tents, wallets wash away in floods

As Kelly Stanhope celebrated her 20th annual camping trip to the River Wye on Victoria’s Surf Coast, screams began to fill the air.

His daughter, who was playing a card game in her tent on Thursday afternoon, went out to investigate.

He came back with a warning: “I think the river is about to burst.”

“We came out of our tent and within 30 seconds it was from our ankles to our knees,” the Melbourne-based mother told AAP.

The family waited on the riverbank and watched as floodwaters carried away their two cars, tents and camping equipment.

“We couldn’t do anything. We were just pointing,” Ms. Stanhope said.

They returned to the campsite on Friday and managed to recover their wallet, sunglasses and a still-working cell phone.

“This is disappointing. My son’s partner lost his car,” he said.

“We are very affected but we are safe and our friends are on their way to take us home.”

The family is among dozens caught off guard when record flash floods burst the river’s banks, bursting its banks in a popular tourist destination.

Rescue efforts are still ongoing after torrential rains quickly filled the Wye, Kennett and Cumberland rivers, carrying huge amounts of water downstream, flooding campsites and wrecking vehicles.

Authorities estimated that approximately 10 to 20 vehicles were lost, while many cars were stranded in the surf.

As residents counted their losses, the weather bureau and emergency services faced questions about their preparedness.

Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch argued that the warnings were “adequate” and “as timely as possible.”

The Bureau of Meteorology warned of heavy showers at 11.57am on Thursday, which was upgraded to include life-threatening flash flooding at 12.40pm.

At 12.58, a watch and take action warning was sent to the region.

Emergency alerts were sent to more than 10,000 cellphones and landlines, Mr. Wiebusch told reporters on Friday, without specifying when.

The first triple zero call about flooding at the Wye River holiday park was made at 1.08pm, followed by another at 1.20pm.

Asked whether local residents had been given adequate warning, bureau spokeswoman Diana Eadie said weather conditions were “exceptional”.

More than 178 millimeters of rain fell on the region in a six-hour period; Lorne station recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall since records began in 1884.

Approximately 200 to 300 people are believed to have been displaced; Many seek refuge with friends, family and support services.

About 60 people requested official accommodation at local aid centers in Lorne and Apollo Bay.

One child was injured and taken to hospital.

Mr. Wiebusch described the outcome as “very fortunate” given the severity of the flooding and the speed of the weather event.