ABC Breakfast host Michael Rowland was broadcasting live across the country from an evacuation centre with information about the fires near Batemans Bay. Ironically it was not reaching the community in danger - including the people standing behind him.
The lack of information has been particularly debilitating for people stuck in Batemans Bay trying to make up their minds if they should, or even could, leave.
On Thursday morning the number of people at the evacuation centre at Hanging Rock oval was considerably depleted from its peak on Tuesday.
Lines of traffic snaked through Batemans Bay as people heeded the fire service's warning to get out before Saturday.
Those that were still there were doing their best to find out what had and hadn't survived in nearby communities and to prepare for what could come.
"We're holding our breath for Saturday," Rosedale resident Julian Hubble said.
He and his wife, Heather, were still at the evacuation centre on Thursday. Their home was OK but they weren't confident enough to return yet.
"There could be trees falling, still burning," Mr Hubble said.
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Mrs Hubble, who while living in Weston Creek experienced the 2003 Canberra bushfires, was too scared to stay at their home on Tuesday and left while her husband stayed to protect the property.
She said hearing gas bottles popping and trees falling had brought back terrible memories.
"You never forget that sound," she said.
Mr Hubble added, "I'll never do that again, it's just too scary."
At the evacuation centre they met close friends, Lilli and Ian Blatch, whose Surf Beach home had also survived.
"It's just been horrible with friends losing their homes," Mr Blatch said.
"We're still not out of the woods."
They estimated there were as many as 1000 cars parked at the centre on Tuesday, with people sleeping at the tennis club and basketball stadium.
Mr Blatch said there wasn't much to do but to "chat, eat and commiserate".
Another evacuee, Chris Williams, said he'd had a friend watching the news in Queanbeyan and texting through information when there was signal which he spread to others in the centre.
He and his wife Sue's Lilli Pilli home still stood but they also feared what Saturday would bring.
"We left it the other day and we said goodbye," Mr Williams said.
"We'll go back and get a few more precious things.
"But what do you do? You can't bring it all."
