Survey teams are inspecting roads and communities affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Trevor to determine if it is possible for evacuees from the Gulf of Carpentaria to return home.
Six Northern Territory Police and Fire and Rescue teams are flying over the area to inspect the damage caused by the Category 4 system.
The teams are also checking on the six people that remained in the region who have already been in contact with emergency services.
Around 100 people have already left on a flight back to Groote Eylandt.
The Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments have announced that disaster assistance funding is available to people from Borroloola, Groote Eylandt and Numbulwar upon their return home.
More information is available on the Secure NT or the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website.
Regional Controller Travis Wurst said emergency services are working to return people home as quickly as possible.
“If you were evacuated, please return to the centre for all information about your return home,” he said.
People who self-evacuated by road may be able to return home if they have been advised that the road is now open and is safe to do so.
Ngukurr residents who self-evacuated can drive themselves home now.
The Secure NT ‘Road Report’ webpage is being constantly updated with information about whether access is possible.
“We’re working as quickly as we can to get people home, and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation.”
The Bureau of Meteorology still has a Severe Weather Warning in place for the Barkly, as well as parts of the Carpentaria and Simpson districts because of the adverse weather conditions resulting from ex-Tropical Cyclone Trevor.
A Flood Watch is also in place for the Carpentaria Coastal Rivers, Georgina River, Simpson Desert and Barkly waterways.
Monitoring continues across the Barkly and north eastern region, with predicted gusty damaging winds and heavy rainfall expected in the area as the system continues to travel south east to Queensland.
People in at-risk communities and outstations have been taken to the evacuation centre in Tennant Creek. An emergency shelter has been established and is now open to residents in Tennant Creek.
The emergency shelter is available to community members who do not have adequate shelter or have concerns about the ability of their current housing to withstand damaging winds and heavy rainfall.
“We urge those requiring shelter to make their way to the Tennant Creek Civic Centre now, before weather conditions deteriorate further,” said Regional Controller, Acting Assistant Commissioner Michael Hebb.
“We will continue to provide updates as information comes to hand.”
For continuing updates, keep listening to local radio and check the Bureau of Meteorology and Secure NT websites and social media pages.
Information about preparing for severe weather or flooding is also available on the Secure NT website.
Source: NT Government