ADF Deploys to Katherine as NT Faces Worst Floods in Decades
Australian Defence Force personnel are deploying to Katherine in the Northern Territory following the region's most severe flooding in almost three decades, with crocodiles spotted in urban areas as communities begin recovery efforts.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro requested federal military assistance over the weekend, with ADF members expected to arrive on Monday to support cleanup operations. Federal Territories Minister Kristy McBain confirmed the deployment on Sunday evening.
"We have now enacted additional ADF support in the Katherine region for clean-up," McBain told ABC News. "A number of members of RAAF Tindal Base have already been out helping the community in their own capacity. That will now be formalised through ADF channels."
Record Water Levels Devastate Communities
The Daly River community has been particularly hard hit, with floodwaters reaching roof height. Record river levels peaked at 16.38 metres at the Katherine police station by Saturday afternoon, completely overwhelming local infrastructure.
The Insurance Council of Australia has declared the flooding a significant event, though the full tally of affected homes and businesses is still being assessed. Emergency services personnel from Victoria have also arrived to provide additional support.
Federal Coordination and Recovery Planning
"We've been working really well with our federal counterparts through this response phase for this unprecedented flooding territory-wide," Finocchiaro said. "It's really important that continues into the recovery phase, and floodwaters haven't even subsided, but it's front-of-mind that we need to rebuild the Territory together."
While the immediate crisis centres on Katherine, the Bureau of Meteorology warns that weather patterns are shifting southward. Commander Sonia Kennon has established an incident management team in Alice Springs to prepare for potential flooding in Central Australia's isolated communities.
Queensland Continues Recovery Efforts
The extreme weather event extends beyond the Northern Territory, with Queensland communities also in recovery mode. Bundaberg has seen more than 350 homes and businesses inundated, while 58 local government areas across the state are receiving assistance.
The disaster has resulted in two fatalities, with Chinese backpackers losing their lives after driving off a bridge en route to the flood-affected North Burnett region. However, a 51-year-old man who disappeared into the flooded Burnett River on Friday was found alive on Sunday.
Major flood warnings remain current for the Thomson River at Longreach, Upper Balonne River at Surat, and Cooper Creek at Windorah, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli noting the Thomson River's frustratingly slow recession at Longreach.
The coordinated federal and state response demonstrates Australia's institutional capacity to manage natural disasters, though the scale of this flooding event underscores the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather patterns across northern Australia.