Today marks the 66th anniversary of the beginning of what would be the most catastrophic flood recorded along the Hunter River.
The 1955 flood, which began on February 23 and lasted nearly six days, killed 14 people and inundated more than 6,600 homes across the Hunter Valley.
The flood waters saw 2.1 million megalitres flow through the Hunter Valley, with 15,000 people forced to evacuate.
Hunter Weather’s timeline of events for the 1955 flood details how the disaster unfolded:
February 23
Flood waters begin their relentless journey down the valley.
February 24
Flood water reaches Singleton, where the first lives are lost.
Overnight Muswellbrook also goes underwater, Maitland is warned of imminent evacuation and an emergency is declared.