Jihad Dib<\/a> said NSW was \u201cmoving towards a different phase of this particular incident\u201d. While flood rescues have decreased, authorities are now assisting people in “getting back into their home, in terms of assistance with the clean-up, but also in terms of assistance with other essential items.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nClean-up and damage assessments are underway in regions such as Smithtown<\/strong>, near the Macleay River<\/strong>, where drone footage revealed widespread inundation. Minns stressed that assessments would take time, stressing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n“That will take a significant amount of time. We have more crews coming in today to continue that work and move through the areas, and we will do that as quickly and safely as possible.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Insurance and Financial Relief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Insurance Council of Australia has received over 1,600 claims, with more expected in the days ahead. CEO Andrew Hall noted that insurers have adjusted to year-round operations in response to increasingly frequent weather events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“We\u2019re now seeing a disaster season really stretched throughout the year, and insurers have had to rebuild their workforces to be able to cope with that,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Disaster assistance has been extended to 19 local government areas, including Armidale, Muswellbrook, and Walcha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grants of $180 per individual and $900 per family are available, along with $1 million community recovery grants. Additional disaster recovery allowances will be activated for Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Mid Coast, and Dungog starting Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uncertainty and Long-Term Planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Minns declined to commit to a home buyback scheme similar to the one launched after the 2021 floods in northern NSW, stating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“I\u2019ve seen these programs, even with the best of intentions, be implemented and not actually work, or apply to just a small number of people, or the money runs out before it can make a difference.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The government, he added, would focus on solutions that work \u201cfor the long haul\u201d, while avoiding the \u201cmistakes of the past.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compounding Hazards From Upcoming Cold Fronts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Senior meteorologist Jonathan How from the Bureau of Meteorology warned of two cold fronts expected to sweep through southeastern Australia in the coming days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These may bring damaging winds, rain, snow, and coastal hazards, further complicating recovery efforts in affected regions and potentially impacting Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the storm\u2019s southern advance has already caused train delays in Sydney and disrupted the opening of the Vivid Festival, with rainfall reaching up to 200 mm in some parts of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fatigue and Resilience in Flooded Communities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“In my experience, the worst impacts that people feel are often after the event. The impacts are devastating \u2026 to see personal possessions or your business impacted. That is usually felt afterwards.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
He noted that many displaced residents are still in evacuation centers, with clean-up operations likely to span several weeks, not days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“We are conscious that many of the community members are still in evacuation centres here today. They are tired and they want to get home.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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