Easing weather conditions have allowed NSW State Emergency Service (SES) to commence damage assessments in impacted areas of the Hunter region.
The town of Wingham is expected to have access issues for the remainder of the day as flood water has cut some roads and bridges.
An emergency warning issued earlier this week at Ferndale Caravan Park has been lifted. Residents can return but are advised to exercise caution.
NSW SES State Duty Commander Nicole Hogan said the damage assessment was an important milestone in the transition to recovery.
“While we still have many fallen trees to clean up and power is not yet fully restored, we will commence damage assessments to allow homeowners, residents, local councils and other government stakeholders fully understand the impacts of this severe weather,” Assistant Commissioner Hogan said.
“They also inform future preparedness and planning for severe weather events.”
Damage assessments in other storm affected areas including Port Stephens, parts of the Hunter and Cessnock will also commence early this week.
Community information and support hubs are open in Maitland and Port Stephens. Community Liaison Officers have also been deployed to Dungog, Maitland and Raymond Terrace to provide support to impacted residents.
Assistant Commissioner Hogan said the Community Hubs were well manned by local volunteers.
“More than 1000 people attended the community hubs with locals supporting locals handing out food and checking on everyone’s wellbeing, she said.
The storms which commenced on Wednesday 15 January were severe and deadly. A man in his 80s was killed when a tree fell on a car at Cowra. Meanwhile a search is ongoing for a man feared missing in floodwater since last night at Limpinwood. A vehicle was washed from a causeway by flood water and later located unattended by in-water rescue operators. Volunteers from NSW SES units in Lismore, Ballina, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Tweed Coast, and Tweed Heads have been assisting NSW Police in the search.
NSW SES have received 8547 incidents since the event commenced. The majority were for fallen trees, downed powerlines and damage to property and vehicles. More than 2100 SES volunteers have been active in the field and have contributed 50,000 operational hours as part of the response.
Assistant Commissioner Hogan said the NSW SES was hopeful the remaining would all be finalised over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Total incidents:
- Metro Zone: 4616
- North Eastern Zone: 177
- North Western Zone: 86
- Northern Zone: 2574
- South Eastern Zone:357
- Southern Zone: 342
- Western Zone: 374
- State HQ: 21
Total: 8547
Media enquiries: NSW SES Media on 1800 067 234