Recovery crews face a mammoth task to assess damage to tens of thousands of homes as waters recede from deadly and record-breaking floods.
An estimated 50,000 people in more than a dozen towns across the NSW Hunter and mid-north coast regions remain cut off and many emergency warnings are still in place despite most river levels falling.
Five flood-related deaths have been confirmed since the latest bout of flooding hit the state.
Efforts are under way to clean up and help the hardest-hit communities, including in Taree, Kempsey, Dungog, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, with essential supply drops delivered by boat and helicopter.
Early estimates indicated at least 10,000 properties had been damaged in the floods, the NSW State Emergency Service said on Saturday.
Crews were prioritising starting washouts and performing damage assessments in areas where floodwaters were beginning to subside, SES chief superintendent Paul McQueen said.
“We will have an increased number of volunteers out in force today to start the damage assessment process,” he said.
Before any evacuation orders were revoked, assessors needed to evaluate access and safety issues.
“This is still a dangerous situation where significant impacts to infrastructure and properties are likely to have occurred,” Mr McQueen said.
The state will face more settled conditions over the weekend after severe weather warnings were cancelled late on Friday evening.
“This is welcome news for those in clean-up and recovery operations,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Helen Reid said.
But as floodwaters start subsiding in some locations, other areas downstream face renewed threats.
A moderate flood warning for Tuggerah Lake, on the Central Coast, has forced a community evacuation, while there were numerous minor flood warnings in place on Saturday morning.
The Pacific Highway was closed between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree, due to flooding, while a section of the highway was closed at Charmhaven on the Central Coast.
Motorists are advised to avoid non-essential travel in flood-affected areas.
Farmers are also beginning to take stock of their losses after cattle were washed down rivers and many properties suffered significant damage.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns will tour flood-impacted areas on Saturday.
More than 1600 insurance claims had 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 the coming days and those unable to work will have access to a disaster recovery allowance from Monday.
The flood-related death toll stands at five, while the SES conducted 85 flood rescues in the 24 hours to 5am.
A man believed to be in his 80s was found inside a burnt-out vehicle in the shed of a Cooplacurripa property, about 50km northwest of Taree.
Severe weather conditions stopped emergency crews from accessing the man’s home when a concern for his welfare 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.
Volunteers are focusing on getting supplies to the 50,000 people still isolated by floodwaters.
“We ask you to be patient, remain in a safe location and please don’t be tempted to drive through flood waters or go sightseeing,” Mr McQueen said.
Written by: William Ton and Samantha Lock © Australian Associated Press 2025
