More than 30,000 still isolated in northern NSW as first homes declared uninhabitable

Some 32,000 residents across 14 northern NSW towns remain in isolation on Sunday morning, as emergency workers from across Australia arrive in the flood disaster zone to assist with the colossal task of assessing the damage caused to an estimated 10,000 homes over the past week.

Several properties have already been declared uninhabitable following initial damage assessments undertaken since record-breaking floodwaters began to recede in the past two days, with the expectation that the number will grow as authorities assess the full extent of damage.

Six emergency warnings remain for northern NSW, with residents warned against entering floodwaters or taking unnecessary risks as soggy conditions remain.

Emergency services were called to 328 incidents in the past 24 hours, 16 of which were flood rescues, with the total number of critical responses caused by the flooding event now ticking over 7400.

Another forecast clear day on Sunday is expected to accelerate damage assessments, which had occurred at less than 500 of the 10,000 impacted properties by Saturday evening. The deployment of almost 200 interstate emergency workers, who have arrived from almost every state and territory, will assist with this process.

Workers will also prioritise the resupply of food, medication and other essential items to towns still in isolation, as the emergency focus moves away from flood rescues to support clean-up efforts across the community.

“Building inundation [has been] seen in many locations, and many have sustained significant damage and are uninhabitable,” State Emergency Service Acting Assistant Commissioner Allison Flaxman said.

“We welcome the additional resources which will assist in undertaking damage assessments of properties and with ongoing resupply operations continue for residents isolated by floodwaters.”