The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and partner agencies are on the ground today completing damage assessments, wash out and clean-up operations across Northern NSW, working with communities as they begin to return to their homes.
Resources from across the NSW Government and interstate have and continue to be deployed to impacted communities. In addition to response crews, there are 276 damage assessment teams in the field today from NSW SES, NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire & Rescue NSW carrying out work across the Lower Hunter, Tuncurry, Port Macquarie, Hastings, Kempsey and Taree areas.
In areas where flood waters have receded, currently more than 3,000 damage assessments have been undertaken, allowing a number of residents to return to their homes and businesses – although so far, over 300 of those properties have been deemed not habitable.
Good progress has been made on the damage assessments front, but it’s important to remember there are an estimated 10,000 flood impacted properties that need to be assessed for safety. Residents are asked to remain patient and await advice from NSW SES that it is safe to return.
Returning home to flood impacted properties poses a number of health and safety risks. Floodwater and mud can contain objects and pollutants that are harmful, including: garbage, chemicals, debris, sewage, germs such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. NSW Health has important advice about safe household clean up after a flood at: health.nsw.gov.au/emergency_preparedness/weather/Pages/household-cleanup.aspx.
When people return home, the NSW SES is advising residents to:
- Take pictures of their properties, before they start cleaning, to assist with insurance claims.
- Leave waste on the kerbside, separating white goods and mattresses from other flood debris.
- Wear protective clothing when cleaning or touching flood-damaged items or material.
- Contact the Environmental Protection Agency on 131 555 for advice if there is any risk that waste contains biological or chemical hazards, or asbestos contamination.
Once items are out for collection, NSW SES can arrange for clean-up teams to wash out your property. Wash outs in Dungog are almost complete, with the next stop expected to be Port Stephens.
Residents and business owners can contact the NSW SES on 132 500 to arrange an assessment and if deemed required, a washout of their property.
NSW State Emergency Service Commissioner Mike Wassing said:
“This has been an incredibly challenging event for many communities, and I want to sincerely thank our NSW SES volunteers and partner agencies for their unwavering dedication and commitment in responding to this crisis.
As we transition into the recovery phase of this operation, our priority remains on delivering essential supplies to the thousands of residents who remain isolated.
As the water recedes, we are only now starting to see the true scale of the devastation communities are dealing with. We are carrying out rapid assessments and working with communities to wash and clean out properties where it is safe to do so, but with 10,000 properties impacted this will take time.
Recovery is a long process, but communities have demonstrated remarkable resilience and resourcefulness, and I have no doubt they can rebuild together.”