THE Molong clean up bill will run into the millions with 90 per cent of the main street businesses flood damaged, 16 houses evacuated, a bridge lifted off its foundations and roads washed away.
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In the early hours of yesterday morning more than 100mm fell on the headwaters of Molong Creek on the slopes of Mount Canobolas.
Closer to Molong residents reported rainfall exceeding 160mm in a few hours.
By the time Molong Creek reached its namesake town it was a raging torrent, more than 50 metres wide in places.
Yesterday during a tour of the town Emergency Services Minister Tony Kelly declared Molong and other areas of the Central West natural disaster areas (see page two).
It is believed to be the town's worst flood, exceeding the high water marks of the 1956 and 1990 floods.
Yesterday the water reached several hundred metres up the town's main street, Bank Street, entering the Telegraph Hotel and lapping at the Post Office steps.
At the Freemasons Hotel on the highway the water all but reached the top of the bar.
Of the 30 to 40 businesses in central Molong more than 20 were damaged.
Detective Senior Constable Kevin Beatty said the water was up to 1.8 metres deep in Bank Street at the flood peak. "We had to evacuate 16 to 18 houses," he said.
Some business owners were in the main street by 3.30am but there was little they could do.
The creek soon reversed the stormwater system and a short time later crossed the railway and surged across the main street.
Supermarket owner Peter Crich knew his business was in trouble when he spotted 44-gallon fuel drums floating up Bank Street.
"We were sandbagging down on the corner [of the highway]. Then I thought I should have a look back up [at my shop]. By the time I walked back up it was lapping the door. I had four sandbags and I got bags of dog biscuits and potting mix. We barricaded it all but then one of the 44s came through the front window. There's a 500-gallon fuel tank that took just a minute to wash up the street. It's still there," he said.
Next door the floodwaters broke through the front of the newsagent and pushed down the sidewall. The building may have to be demolished.
Fuel drums also washed through the Pickled Pepper. At the rear of the shop the floodwaters piled high smashed furniture. At the front there was broken glass and a layer of slick mud.
The café's shaken owner Karen Matthews said she was shattered. "It's completely washed through. It's all ruined," she said.
As the floodwaters rose shopkeepers were evacuated.
Power was cut to the flood damaged sections of the town.
