The key message from the 12:30pm briefing by NSW SES and Police was to Stay Indoors and only travel if there is a necessity or if you are leaving your house to move to a safe place.

Acting Chief Superintendent Stuart Fisher is the NSW State Emergency Service Operations Commander for this event said, "I cannot underestimate to the public the severity of this event that's about to encroach on us. We would suggest that if they can evacuate or to move out of the danger zones, they do so now. Our concern going forward is once the trees and power lines come down due to the strong winds, they may impede their egress out of the area. It may also impede the access for emergency services to get into those areas.

"There will be some who think that they can wait until the last minute to get out, and again, we're asking them to leave. Now the problem, as we all know, these people will try and drive through flooded waters that no doubt will put them at risk, will put our volunteers at risk and the other services trying to rescue them. So again, we ask if they wish to leave, they should do so now."

District Commander of the Richmond Police District Scott Tanner said, "Use today as the day that you prepare for the next three days, the weather is going to deteriorate, as we've heard, and it's going to be unsafe to be on the roads."

Commander Tanner said at this stage there are no evacuation orders in place. However, communities at high risk like Lismore, the CBD and North and South Lismore and Kyogle should seriously consider leaving their houses and go to family and friends or as a last resort, an evacuation centre.

Acting Supt Fisher said the main concern right now is coastal erosion, dangerous four to seven metre waves followed by severe and destructive winds.

"Those winds will get up to around 120 kilometers per hour, and that will be then followed by torrential and heavy rain. If members of the public have not already thought about evacuating or moving to outside the danger zone, we are now asking them, if it's safe to do so, to think about enacting your plan and moving out of what you may think is the low risk or low lying areas.

Acting Supt Fisher then went on to describe the resources that have moved into the area to help with Alfred's aftermath.

"NSW SES have substantial resources up here at the moment. We have expert and professional flood rescue crews on standby from today. We have highly trained storm crews up here from today, we have high clearance vehicles to assist in any of those flooded areas. We have what we will call 'cell on wheels' for emergency communications, and we have a number of our emergency services partners, including, NSW Police, Fire and Rescue, VRA and Surf Life Saving up here to support us as well.

"State headquarters has ADF (Australian Defence Force) representation down there, and they are talking with them. If we need to bring them in, they'll they'll be in that discussion."

"We have at least six helicopters placed in Grafton and Casino. The problem with helicopters is they can only fly in reasonable weather. Our concern will be that, and again, members probably need to understand that they can't fly during extreme weather, so it's high winds, torrential rain, but we do have them on standby, ready to go when we can get them up."

Senator Tony Sheldon, Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery for the Federal Government mentioned a S61 (Sikorsky) helicopter is also ready to do a heavy lift supply and move people to assist in what we might be facing over the next few days and beyond.

As for the potential rainfall and resulting flooding, Acting Supt Fisher said we are expecting between 300 and 400mm of rain over the next three days. However, there is a serious concern.

"One of the concerns is if the cyclone, once it reaches landfall, it may stall. And if that's the case, that would severely increase the rainfall to around 600 to 700 mm of rain. So, we are hoping that it does what it's supposed to do."

As for the million dollar question on business owners' lips in the CBD, will the Lismore levee overtop?

"We have information that the levy may top. We're looking at, I'll come back with the figure for you, but we are looking at that to top. We are now putting measures in place. We have spoken to the communities down there. We have spoken to the shopkeepers, and they're preparing for that. I believe that will happen Friday to Saturday."

Acting Supt Fisher said he believes both Lismore catchment area, Wilsons River to the northeast and Terania Creek to the northwest will receive rain.

For those worried about sandbags, or the lack thereof, another 100,000 were on their way to the Northern Rivers today. A fresh load of sand was delivered to the sandbagging area at the Lismore Golf Club on Barham Street at about 11am today.

Already, SES crews have been called to attend property damage for leaking roofs, which is expected to increase to flood rescues and substantial leaking of property and flood inundation of property in the coming days.

Commander Tanner said he felt confident that this time emergency services are much better prepared.

"We've only got to have a drive around town and see the amount of extra resource that we've got in town. So on top of the SES, there's RFS crews that are coming to town. We have Fire and Rescue Swift Water Crews. We have over 24 Police Rescue Units that have come into town. So, I'm very confident that with the community's support, that we are in a well prepared position to make sure that everyone can get through this unscathed. I want to really reinforce, though, that this is dependent on the community and their actions, they need to make their own assessments where they are right now, and is it safe to be where you are? If not, you need to go where it is safe."

Senator Sheldon concluded today's event by saying, "I just want to remind everybody to make sure you've got your emergency plan there. Make sure you're not going through floods, and also a great call out to the Northern Rivers. You are ready, I know you are determined to make sure this goes smoothly. Look after each other, and certainly keep in contact with the SES and your authorities, make sure you get the right advice, and clear advice about what next steps to take."

More updates when they appear.