The worst of the state-stopping storm has thankfully passed overnight, as NSW prepares for a massive clean up following three days of incessant rain, flooding and cyclonic winds. The death toll from the storm has now risen to at least eight: two men and one woman drowned on Tuesday in the regional town of Dungong; a woman’s body was retrieved from waters near Maitland yesterday, not long after four other deaths were reported around the state – two were killed on the New England highway after a head-on collision during dangerous weather conditions, a driver also died in a collision at Galston, and an elderly pedestrian also died in East Gosford.
Twelve areas in NSW have been officially declared natural disaster zones – allowing for emergency funding by the State and Federal governments for the flood-stricken areas, while also giving residents affected by the storm access to hardship assistance payments.
Maitland, Dungog, Cessnock, Gosford, Great Lakes, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Pittwater, Port Stephens, Singleton, Warringah and Wyong have all been declared natural disaster zones.
While rain will ease across NSW today, authorities have reminded locals in particularly affected areas that a risk of flooding is still high. Homes near the St Georges river, at risk of inundation, are being evacuated.
NSW Police have also warned of opportunistic scammers who have been making calls for donations by credit card to the SES. Both the NSW Police and SES have confirmed that the donation drive is fraudulent.
SCAM WARNING from the NSW SES! Please be aware we have had more reports of people receiving phone calls from individuals…
Posted by NSW Police Force on Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Rain in the CBD of Sydney was still persistent yesterday, and the fruitlessness of umbrellas, those valiant, bloody useless guardians of shelter, was felt around the city. An instagram documenting the skewered and dishevelled skeletons of brollies has already popped up. So long, sweet umbrellas. You will not be missed.
Emergency crews have begun the absolutely mammoth job of a clean up around the State today, with an estimated 100,000 homes still without power. To the legends assisting with such an effort, we salute you. And we strongly admire your lack of fucks given when storming through flood waters:
Lead image by Peter Parks via Getty.
