Overview

• Five fatalities have been confirmed, including an elderly man found in a flood-affected property near Taree, as emergency crews continue recovery operations.
• Approximately 50,000 people remain isolated across New South Wales, with key areas like Taree, Kempsey, and Port Macquarie heavily impacted.
• An estimated 10,000 properties have been damaged by record-breaking flooding, prompting extensive damage assessments and cleanup efforts led by the SES and volunteers.
• State and federal governments have announced hardship grants of $180 per individual or $900 per family, alongside a $1 million recovery grant for affected local councils.
• Residents are urged to avoid floodwaters due to ongoing safety risks, as stagnant water and rising river flows pose hazards while warnings remain active in 31 areas.