Residents in Central Victoria have started sandbagging properties with the Campaspe River expected to rise nine metres and threaten hundreds of homes in the next few days.
Three Watch and Acts remain in place across Central and North Central Victoria, one for the Loddon River from the Loddon Weir to Kerang, for the Avoca River downstream of Charlton and the Murray River downstream of Tocumwal to Barham.
The Campaspe River in Rochester and Elmore is at minor to moderate flood level.
Mark Cattell, Incident Controller with the North West SES, said volunteers were knocking on the doors of 700 properties around Rochester.
"It could be as many as 700 [homes affected] if the level gets high enough," he said.
"We're talking about 20-50 millimetres across the state, but higher totals of 60 to 100 on or north of the divide."
"We're going to have those three catchments, the Campaspe, Avoca and Loddon Rivers, impacted."
He said the SES has already distributed thousands of sandbags to residents.
"We've just requested another 13,000. Rochester's just requested another 8,000," he said.
The SES is urging residents to prepare their properties, leave early and never drive through flood water.
"Bag it, block it, lift it and leave," Mr Cattell said.
"If you're considering driving through floodwater, it could be the last decision you ever make. It only takes 15 centimetres to float."
River peak expected on Saturday
Earlier, Rochester SES member Judith Gledhill said she expected residents to evacuate on Friday, with the Campaspe River expected to peak on Saturday at 114 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD).
The SES has sandbags and help at the Rochester Recreation Reserve today.
"It's important to put the sandbags in their toilet and shower, lift the furniture where necessary and leave before the peak," Ms Gledhill said.
"It's predicted the town of Rochester gets cut in half and gets almost landlocked.
"It's important for people to leave before the peak arrives."
She said the community had already banded together to help vulnerable residents.
"You can't stop flood water, it will come, it will destroy.
"Stay informed, be prepared. Talk to your neighbour, talk to your friends, make sure everybody knows," Ms Gledhill said.
"If everybody talks to each other, hopefully everybody will be covered throughout the district."
Residents fear similar damage to 2011 floods
Narelle Fraser, who lives on the Campaspe River between Rochester and Elmore, said she and her husband had been discussing if they should evacuate today.
"My husband wants to leave today and get out, I'm keen to stay until we have to go," Ms Fraser said.
"My house is surrounded by water. We are literally surrounded. We will probably go once our driveway is covered with water."
The Frasers evacuated during the 2011 floods.
They fear this time will be as bad, but say the community's better prepared.
"2011 was very stressful and I don't want to go through that again," Ms Fraser said.
"We're certainly being kept informed of what's going on, which is very different to 2011."
"To be honest, I'm starting to feel a bit nervous."
'Calm' before the storm
At Barham, in southern New South Wales, the SES is forecasting the Murray could reach 6.05 metres tomorrow, with the potential for floodwaters to impact low-lying rural areas.
A Watch and Act warning remains in place for residents downstream of the Hume Dam to Tocumwal and Barham.
Barham local Lloyd Polkinghorn said, although the river had been rising, locals were feeling “quite calm” and would be waiting to see what happens over coming days.
“At the moment, we are experiencing a higher river in town with some minor encroachments over the banks,” he said.
"The township itself is quite safe – it has been through a lot of major floods before and the bulk of the flooding is contained to the [surrounding] forests, historically.”
