Recovery from Storms and Floods

For information on all available disaster assistance, please contact the Disaster Customer Care Service at Service NSW on T 13 77 88 or online via service.nsw.gov.au

 Service NSW is working in partnership with other State agencies, local government and the Australian Government to provide impacted people with information on and access to:

• Accommodation advice
• Relevant charitable services
• Mental health and wellbeing services
• Support for businesses
• Clean-up services
• Financial assistance
• Insurance and legal support

The Contact Centre hours have been extended to between 7am and 7pm and to weekends while communities recover.

The Disaster Relief Grant helps people to recover from the effects of a disaster and re-establish a basic standard of living. It is not provided to replace insurance or compensate for losses.

You may be eligible for financial support if the following apply: 

• your home (primary place of residence) was damaged by a natural disaster 
• you do not have insurance for the damage 
• you are a low-income earner with limited financial resources 
• it has been less than four (4) months since the disaster.

 Phone T 13 77 88 and ask about the Disaster Relief Grant administered by Resilience NSW.

This is an NSW Government disaster assistance payment available at any time to eligible individuals or households. 

The Disaster Recovery Payment is a one-off, non-means tests payment of $1,000 for adults and $400 for children, who have been seriously injured, lost their homes or whose homes have been directly damaged, or the immediate family members of a person who has lost their life, as a direct result of the storms and floods. 

 This is an Australian Government disaster assistance payment.

 Visit Services Australia at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster to find out if you are eligible, or phone T 180 22 66.

 The Disaster Recovery Allowance provides a short-term income support payment to assist individuals whose income has been affected as a direct result of the storms and floods, for up to 13 weeks.

This is an Australian Government disaster assistance payment.

Visit Services Australia at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster to find out if you are eligible, or phone T 180 22 66.

The NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages can assist with the replacement of Birth, Death and Change of Name certificates, waiving associated replacement fees for Australia and New Zealand born citizens. 

 Phone Service NSW on T 13 77 88 or visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/births-deaths-marriages.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) may declare a catastrophe following significant storms and floods.

A declaration will assist in prioritising the insurance industry’s response for affected policyholders and if you are a policyholder and need to make an insurance claims, you can expect to be given priority by insurers.

For advice and guidance phone the ICA hotline on T 1800 734 621. 

Note: Claims cannot be made via this hotline. 

For help with legal problems including insurance claims and disputes, financial hardship, tenancy and Centrelink, visit the Disaster Response Legal Service at disasterhelp.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/how-we-can-help or phone 1800 801 529 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Local Land Services (LLS) are aiding landholders and communities with animal welfare-related issues resulting from the floods, including:

• Animal assessment and veterinary assistance
• Stock euthanasia and burial
• Emergency fodder
• Emergency stock water (where there is an immediate animal welfare concern)
• Livestock feeding and management advice
• Care of animals in evacuation centres

 Phone the Agricultural and Animal Services Hotline on T 1800 814 647.

The NSW Small Business Commissioner has support services for small business owners who have suffered direct damage to their assets or loss of income following statewide flooding. 

Loans at a fixed concessional interest rate may be available to small businesses, primary producers and non-profits (subject to certain eligibility criteria) that have been directly impacted. 

 For information on what supports are available visit www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au or phone T 1300 795 534. 

The NSW Government recognises the trauma associated with disasters and recognises early treatment can make significant long differences to mental health.

Recovery from disasters takes time and mental health supports will aid the long-term recovery of our impacted communities.

Phone the NSW Mental Health Line at any time on T 1800 011 511.  

Find local mental health supports in the Singleton and surrounding Hunter area.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services work together to manage the effects of emergencies on agriculture, livestock and our community as Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Area AASFA.

They have a dedicated hotline for producers to call to report damage and stock losses, as well as request emergency assistance. The AASFA Hotline is T 1800 814 647 and is operating 9 5pm all week.

Available help includes:

• Emergency fodder for livestock
• Veterinary assessment and advice
• Euthanasia and burial for animals

Primary producers who are now starting to gain access to their paddocks are encouraged to report damage, including stock and fodder losses, as well as damage to farms, fencing and other farm infrastructure.

Floodwaters and wet conditions can cause a wide range of livestock health issues, even for some time after the waters have subsided.

Livestock that have been standing in water for some time, or that have been submerged, are most at risk of developing disease issues and should be monitored closely.

Ensuring your livestock have access to adequate food and water is the number one priority. During this time, it is also vital that producers monitor for signs of disease in their livestock.

Information on what to look out for can be found here. 

If you notice any signs of disease or illness please contact your local district vet on T 1300 795 299 or call the Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline on T 1800 678 593.

Once flood waters recede and the clean up begins on your property, it is important to monitor your horses for any signs of illness or injury.

If your horse has been directly affected by flooding, submerged or standing in floodwaters for long periods of time it can lead to several health issues It is important to assess them as soon as possible, make sure they have clean water to drink and access to food and shelter

For more information on how to care for horses after floods, click here.

Damage to pastures can range from minor sediment deposition, through to deep sedimentation of silt, sand or gravel deposits on pastures, erosion of topsoil, scalding and total loss of existing pasture.

Local Land Services has developed a helpful fact sheet to guide your recovery. Download it here.

There are a range of measures land managers can undertake to repair erosion damage after floods.

Local Land Services has developed a helpful fact sheet to guide your recovery. Download it here.

•  Do not enter a damaged building or structure, unless deemed safe to do so by authorities.
• Contact your insurance company directly and take plenty of photos of any property and contents damage before removing and disposing of items.
• If removing/moving waste, remember to practice basic hygiene and use appropriate personal protective equipment including dust mask, gloves, covered shoes/boots and full-length clothing cover for arms and legs.
• If using disinfectants and/or other cleaners, follow safety advice on labels and do not touch eyes and face.
• Be alert to snakes, spiders, rats and other wildlife that may have taken refuge in the building, structure or furniture. 
• Each area affected by floodwater within the building needs to be cleaned and dried. This includes fridges and cupboards. Wall and floor cavities should be checked for mud, debris and floodwater. If items are not completely dry mould or mildew may develop.
• Floodwater may be contaminated with sewage and chemicals. Contact with floodwater can lead skin and stomach infections and other rare but serious conditions such as leptospirosis. 

Flood-inundated homes and buildings provide the perfect conditions for mould to grow.

People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mould. People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases are more at risk of mould infection particularly in their lungs.

For advice visit Mould - Fact Sheet.

During periods of flooding mosquito numbers could rapidly increase and cause nuisance. 

 Personal protection measures include:

• avoid going outside when mosquitoes are most prevalent, including around dawn and dusk
• use an effective repellent on exposed skin areas
• cover up as much as possible with loose fitting clothing and sensible footwear
• limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items that hold water or by emptying the containers
• provide mosquito netting, where necessary—both indoors and outdoors

The following fact sheets have been supplied by NSW Health, which provide information and advice for maintaining your health during and after storms and floods. 

• Ready 123
• Household safety
• Household clean-up
• Food, water and kitchen clean up
• In the yard and garden
• Swimming pools
• Rainwater tanks
•  Frequently asked questions after a disaster
•  Asbestos – Property hazards after storms and floods
•  Septic tanks
• Mould – After a flood: Mould and your health
•  Mosquitoes
•  Household clean up
•  Pool clean up
•  Food, water, medication and kitchen clean-up
•  What to do when you return to your property after flood