Update 3: Barkly and Central Australia flooding
6:45pm 27 February 2026
Alice Springs flash flood risk – be prepared
Although river levels have fallen, the Todd and Charles River catchments are fully saturated. Water levels may rise quickly if more rain arrives. Please take a few simple steps today to stay prepared.
Know your flood risk
- Check whether your home is in a flood-affected or flood-protected area.
- Areas close to the Todd and Charles rivers can rise fast.
- If your home or street was affected by the recent flooding event, you are considered at higher risk.
- See Alice Springs flood mapping information.
Shelters
- Shelters are not currently open.
- If shelters are required, Centralian Middle School and Centralian Senior College will open first.
- If opened, medically vulnerable residents within impact area need to move to Centralian Middle School. If you are medically vulnerable and it is not safe to move to the western side of the river, please go to Centralian Senior College.
- Additional shelters will open if needed.
- Pets are not allowed at emergency shelters. Please plan for them in advance. Do not tie them in your yards or lock them inside where they might be trapped. Leave plenty of dry food and clean water in a high location they can access.
- Shelters will not be catered, residents will need to bring their own food and bedding – no cooking will be permitted in the shelters.
If you plan to shelter at home
- Have at least three days of food, drinking water, medications and essential supplies.
- Have torches with spare batteries and ensure you have charged devices and power banks.
- Keep a battery powered radio ready.
- Make sure you have enough pet food and water for your pets.
- Ensure your vehicle has fuel.
- Fill gas bottles today.
- Clear gutters and outside areas. Move valuables to higher places inside.
- Keep your sandbags in place until the weather system has passed.
Travel and safety
- Avoid unnecessary travel.
- Never walk or drive through floodwater.
- Before leaving home, check the Road Report website.
- Stay well away from drains, creeks and riverbanks.
- Report damaged power infrastructure to Power and Water on 1800 245 092.
Stay informed
- Monitor SecureNT and ABC Radio.
- Conditions can change quickly. Please remain alert and follow official instructions.
Sandbag information
- For local sandbag information, call 08 8951 9300.
Financial help
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Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements have been activated.
Financial support is available for eligible individuals and families, businesses, primary producers, non-profit organisations, and local and state governments affected by the severe weather event.
This support is provided through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and covers the following.
Category B
Repairs to services and infrastructure, freight subsidies to primary producers and assistance to non-profit organisations, and support for local councils and residents to help with clean-up costs and the restoration of essential public assets.
Assistance for primary producers and non-profit organisations, includes:
- Up to $5,000 to support freight costs associated with transporting livestock and fodder, replacing or repairing buildings, equipment, machinery or fences. This is initial disaster assistance for those in immediate need and further support may be considered.
- Non-profit organisations access to one-off grant funding of up to $10,000 to repair or replace an asset.
Eligibility criteria
Communities eligible for assistance include the following local government authorities:
- Alice Springs
- Barkly
- Central Desert
- MacDonnell.
For information on how to apply for the freight subsidy, go to the Northern Territory Government website.
For information on how to apply for the non-profit grant funding, go to Grants NT.
Contact business.programs@nt.gov.au or phone 1800 193 111.
Information on all disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website.
Assistance to restore or repair essential public assets
DRFA assistance has been extended to local government areas in
- Alice Springs
- Barkly
- Central Desert
- and MacDonnell.
This extension applies to repair and reconstruction of public assets only; it is not available to individuals or private enterprise.
The measure provides financial assistance to help government and councils with the costs of restoring or repairing eligible essential public assets or infrastructure damaged as a direct result of the severe weather and floods.
It also covers emergency and immediate reconstruction works, such as temporary repairs, which are undertaken immediately after a disaster to enable an eligible asset to be operational.
The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure does restoration works for NT Government assets.
The funding will assist local governments to undertake restoration and work that is beyond the scope of their operational budgets.
Repairs by NT Government include:
- works on major highways and roads that were significantly impacted,
- repairs to public housing,
- repairs to other infrastructure assets that were damaged by the weather events.
Impact assessment survey for pastoralists
Pastoral properties and property owners in the flood affected areas can do a self-assessment of their property and assets to provide details to the recovery team.
Properties not impacted by the floods are also asked to register through the survey to enable an understanding of the wider event impacts.
Complete the Northern Territory Disaster Impact Survey.
Stay up to date
Drivers are reminded to refer to Road Report NT website for all the latest road updates as conditions can change quickly.
Contacts
If you require assistance, refer to the information below.
- NT Emergency Services: 132 500
- Power and Water: 1800 245 090
- Road Report NT: 1800 246 199 or the Road Report website
- Bureau of Meteorology – NT weather updates