There have been more than 100 calls for help in Forbes on Saturday as a major flood peak similar to record flooding in the 1950s reaches the central-west New South Wales town.
There were 21 flood emergency warnings in place in NSW as of Saturday evening as the state's prolonged flood crisis continues.
The Forbes CBD is isolated and "like an island", the SES says, but there has been relief with the major flood peak in the Lachlan River 10 centimetres below what was predicted.
The flood peak arrived on Saturday evening at 10.7 metres, but the current flood is still "extremely dangerous" with around 1,000 people affected by emergency evacuation warnings and "high, fast-moving water" through the town's CBD.
In the last 24 hours, the SES responded to more than 100 calls for help in the course of completing 20 rescues, including assisting vulnerable people requiring medical evacuation and transporting essential workers.
Extensive parts of the town are already inundated, with floodwater slowly rising.
A boil-water alert has now been issued for Forbes, with residents still in their homes advised to boil treated or raw water before drinking.
Major flooding is also occurring at Nanami, Cottons Weir and Jemalong.
Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller said the CBD looked like "a big dam".
"There's lots of inundation in houses, businesses, it's a pretty sad and sorry sight actually," she said.
"It reminds me of 1990 but we will wait and see what the damage bill is after the water recedes ... it's a waiting game ... it's just such a resilient and tight-knit community.
Everyone along the Lachlan River is being urged to prepare for rising floodwaters, with the SES expecting water from Forbes to reach Condoblin by November 14 at a possible peak of 7.3m.
The NSW Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said organisations including the Australian Defence Force, NSW Volunteer Rescue Association, Surf Life Saving, SES, Fire and Rescue, police and ambulance were combining to respond to the widespread, prolonged flooding disaster in inland NSW.
The Defence Force is stationed in Wagga Wagga with a Blackhawk helicopter there on standby to assist with flood rescues.
'Complete devastation' for business owner
Forbes business owner Craig Dwyer said there was a least half a metre of water through his premises.
"Complete devastation ... we have water all through the business, we don't know quite how deep ... we lifted everything we could and then just had to bail," he said.
"You come here every day and you put your heart and soul into the place and try and look after your team ... Thursday we had to get out and just sit and watch it come in yesterday.
"I think we will have water here at least a week."
Anita Rutherford does work for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and said she was facing difficulty accessing one of her clients to offer support.
"I was here in 1990 and this is way worse than I can remember ... my concern is having to jump on a truck or boat to get to the other side of town to support that person," she said.
At Bedgerabong, near Forbes, farmer Anne Earney said she had been isolated for three weeks.
"By Monday [or] Tuesday the water will have reached Bedgerabong and then we wait for the water to inundate us from the river and the creek," she said.
"It's a long process, it won't be going away quickly, and we've been here before, we're fourth generation farmers."
In the state's north, a warning is in place for the already isolated Walli Village community at Collarenebri to evacuate by 4:00pm Saturday, with the failure of the sewerage system imminent.
Dave Rankin from the SES Western Zone said they were keeping a close watch on the situation.
"There are only two households which have remained there, they have already become isolated by the floodwater, and we have door-knocked them, and they have said they will stay in place and manage that," he said.
"We will keep a close eye on them, we have a ferry service running by boat from town into Walli."
In the state's south, the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga in the Riverina peaked at 9.72m on Friday with major flooding, its highest peak in 10 years.
The levee at Wagga has so far held, with the river peaking 20 centimetres below the top.
There are still evacuation orders for many Wagga Wagga residents, but the SES is focused on allowing locals to return home as soon as it is safe.
The SES "wants residents of North Wagga Wagga back as soon as possible" and crews are working with the local council and waiting on engineering reports.
Once they are satisfied the embankment is in a stable condition, locals will be allowed back in that area.
