Major clean-up ahead as rain eases after deadly floods

[Pelican Press 0]

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Major clean-up ahead as rain eases after deadly floods

Dozens of communities are beginning to assess the damage of devastating and deadly flooding as the rain begins to ease.

Towns across the NSW Hunter and mid-north coast remain cut off and it will take some time to recover once floodwaters recede.

Recovery efforts are under way for communities hardest hit including Taree, Kempsey, Dungog, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, with essential supply drops delivered by boat and helicopter.

Farmers are also beginning to take stock of their losses after cattle were washed down rivers and many properties suffered significant damage.

More than 1600 insurance claims have already been made, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.

Assistance grants of $180 per person or $900 for families are expected to roll out in coming days and those unable to work in the hardest-hit areas will have access to disaster recovery allowance from Monday.

By Friday evening, the flood-related death toll had risen to five, with the SES confirming its crews had conducted 736 flood rescues since the flooding began.

The body of a man believed to be his 80s was found inside a burnt-out vehicle in the shed of a Cooplacurripa property, about 50km northwest of Taree.

Severe weather conditions had prevented emergency crews accessing the man’s home when a concern for his ******** was raised two days earlier.

The body of a man in his late 70s was also found on Friday after his vehicle appeared to be swept off a causeway at Nana Glen near Coffs Harbour.

Another man died at a flooded home near Taree, as did a driver west of Port Macquarie and a 60-year-old woman near Coffs Harbour.

A man missing in Nymboida has been found but police have not ruled out floods as a factor in the disappearance of another man in Bellingen.

Volunteers are focusing on getting supplies to the 50,000 people isolated by floodwaters.

And as the rain eases, another weather problem is on its way, with strong winds expected to batter the state.

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said a powerful windy cold front would sweep across parts of Australia in the coming days.

“As soon as one weather system leaves the state, we start lining up the next one already,” he said.

“The main threat looks to be the damaging wind gusts that this front will bring.

“Extensive damage and possibly destructive winds across almost all of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, SA and southern Queensland all seeing some of the wind as well.”

Increased wind on Monday and Tuesday could also uproot trees and buildings from sodden soil.

“Because we’ve got these saturated soils we’re going to see loosened root systems and we will see trees come down,” NSW State Emergency Service Chief Superintendent Dallas Burnes warned.

Disaster assistance has been expanded, with 19 areas eligible for support.

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