A community meeting was held in Rochester on Wednesday night ahead of a major flood warning for the town.
Two scenarios have been predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology for the Campaspe River at the Rochester town gauge.
The most likely scenario is the Rochester town gauge will peak on Saturday afternoon at 115.2m.
This is equivalent to a one-in-50-year flood and similar to the 1956 flood event, and 100ml lower than January 2011 event.
The less likely, but still possible scenario is the gauge level will peak at 115.5m, which is greater than a one-in-200-year event, and 100ml above the January 2011 event.
Echuca Police’s Mick Carroll said a relief/evacuation centre would open, likely from Thursday afternoon and be based in Echuca.
He said there will be extra police patrols in Rochester to keep an eye on properties if people have to evacuate.
Advice about the relief centre will be promoted by the SES once it is opened.
Rochester and Elmore District Health Service chief executive Karen Laing said they had been relocating aged care residents and patients to other services in the region and have sent staff with them to provide care.
She said the hospital would be shut with no services on-site.
The community is advised to call 000 in the event of a medical emergency.
Ambulance Victoria advised it was stationing an ambulance either side of the Campaspe River in Rochester and extra shifts were being put on from Friday to Monday based in Echuca to provide extra support in the area.
Residents were reminded to ‘Bag It, Block It, Lift It and Leave’: This means laying sandbags, including to block toilets and drains in the house, lift furniture and valuables up high and leave to somewhere safe.
Sandbag collection points are open at the Rochester Recreation Reserve and opposite the swimming pool in Ramsey St.
Please come and help fill sandbags or if collecting bring ID to show that you are from Rochester. Twenty-five sandbags will be issued to help protect your house. Sandbags are unable to be issued to protect property.