RESIDENTS are urged to stay at home and not hamper emergency services operations across the region as thousands of residents remain stranded while significant and severe flooding impacts the Hastings.

The Saturday morning tide is now rising and widespread inundation is occurring across the Port Macquarie CBD.

The Hastings River has surged into Short Street, Clarence Street, the Westport Club has been flooded and key roads into town are cut off.

Access to the Port Macquarie airport has been cut and residential properties in this area have been lost.

Settlement Point Road and the North Shore is experiencing river surges with residents on both sides of the Hastings advised to evacuate.

SES unit commander Michael Ward is asking everyone to avoid these areas and keep a clear path for emergency service personnel trying to do their job.

There are still more than 170 outstanding jobs to be attended to by the SES with the support of Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Police, Surf Life Saving NSW crews and other support agencies.

The Kindee Bridge peaked at 12.1 metres during the early hours of Saturday morning, breaking the 2013 major flood record.

The Wauchope gauge is nearing 8.7 metres and major flooding is now expected at Settlement Point with the river likely to peak at 2.1 metres.

The Oxley Highway is cut east of Long Flat. There has been a landslide on the road to Comboyne.

People in low lying parts of Wauchope and surrounding areas and low lying parts of Settlement Point and areas north of the Hastings River Drive should relocate immediately to family or friends outside the impact area.

The evacuation centre is now open at Port Panthers.

At Settlement Point and surrounding areas flood waters are inundating roads and properties in the following areas:

Rainfall observations from 9am Friday to 5am today (Saturday) include:

In the Camden Haven, the Bureau of Meteorology has reported that the Camden Haven River is experienced a second peak of 9.30 metres at Logans Crossing at 2am Saturday. Major flooding is occurring.

Major flooding is occurring at Laurieton and was expected to peak near 2.6 metres at 10am Saturday. This peak will exceed the 1978 record flood level.

This will result in major flooding along the Camden Haven River.

At Logan's Crossing flood waters will impact most low lying areas causing extensive inundation of low lying housing within Kendall, Kew and rural surrounds.

At Laurieton, North Haven and Dunbogan there is possible isolation of Dunbogan and will be widespread flooding of houses in Dunbogan, North Haven and parts of Laurieton.

An evacuation centres for residents in low-lying areas is at Laurieton United Services Club.

At Laurieton, North Haven and Dunbogan - Diamond Waters Caravan Park will flood; Diamond Head Road, Camden Head Road and The Boulevarde may close.

Flooding starts on Ocean Drive near Stingray Creek Bridge between Laurieton and North Haven.

Flooding starts on Diamond Head Road near Dunbogan Bridge closing the road to Laurieton.

Inundation of properties begins in Dunbogan along parts of Camden Head Road, Longsworth Road and The Boulevarde and there may be possible isolation of Camden Head, inundation of properties at Haven Circuit and Laurieton Gardens Caravan Park and inundation of properties in North Haven including Alfred Street, Pioneer Street, Eames Avenue, Ocean Drive and Brigadoon Caravan Park.

Residents living in outlying areas including Rollands Plains, Telegraph Point, Hacks Ferry, Ballengarra, Pappinbarra and Comboyne are experiencing isolation, power outages and phone issues.

Thousands of residents are without power, some people have required airlifting from their homes which are now under water. Stock has been lost in swollen rivers while families in other properties require fuel for generators.

Anyone is these areas requiring urgent assistance should call the SES on 132 500. If it is a life threatening situation call triple zero (000) immediately.

Read more: The lessons learned from 2013's February floods

Wauchope Showground is opening the gates for people needing to evacuate stock. They have over 100 new stables available and the 16 stallion stalls are also available. If there are cattle that need to get to higher ground the showground can accommodate those cattle which are most at risk due to limited space.

Showground contact number is 0474 780 546 or ring the president on 0418 762 599.

Video: Floodwater inundates Telegraph Point. Video: Ben MacInesker.

Once floodwater passes the moderate level at the Laurieton gauge, roads around North Haven, Dunbogan and Diamond Head and foreshore areas of Laurieton will begin to close.

The SES says once flood water begins inundating the area, road access, water, sewerage, power, phones and internet may be lost. If residents remain in the area you will be trapped and it may be too dangerous for the SES to rescue you.

Wherever possible, people should go and stay with family or friends, or make other accommodation arrangements. If you are unable to, an evacuation centre has been set up at the Laurieton United Services Club and Port Macquarie Panthers.

At Settlement Point, once floodwater passes 1.75m a significant number of properties will be inundated.

The areas affected are:

VIDEO: Scramble to close bridge after Bellinger River's rapid rise

The Pacific Highway is closed in both directions between Coopernook and Glenthorne as well as at Mooreland between Hannam Vale Rd and Jericho Rd.

The Oxley Highway remains closed between Henry Street at Long Flat and Billabong Drive in Sancrox due to flooding as well as between Walcha and Mount Seaview due to a landslip.

Waterfall Way remains closed between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora due to a landslip in Thora.

Solitary Islands Road remains closed between Blackadder Road and Coral Street at Corindi Beach due to flooding.

Failford Road remains closed between Mill Road and The Lakes Way at Failford due to flooding.

Giinagay Way is closed between Warrell Creek and Nambucca Heads.

Current road closures are in place on the following Port Macquarie-Hastings roads and bridges as of 7.30am Saturday:

Ferries

Council has advised of a number of surcharges in the wastewater schemes at Port Macquarie, Camden Haven, Bonny Hills, Wauchope and Kew/Kendall.

Essential Energy has confirmed there are power outages impacting thousands of people across Port Macquarie-Hastings. They include:

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