NSW weather: Stories of survival emerge from Picton as residents brace for flood recovery effort

Updated

Stories of heartbreak and survival have emerged from the flood-ravaged town of Picton, south-west of Sydney.

Key points: Clean up effort underway after Stonequarry Creek burst it banks on Saturday

Residents recount 'very strong' torrent' and hearing 'neighbours screaming for help'

Insurance companies yet to determine if damage will be classified as 'storm' or 'flood': State Disaster Recovery coordinator

A huge clean up effort is continuing after Stonequarry Creek burst it banks during Saturday's storm, sending water through homes and shops.

Properties on Elizabeth Street, which back onto the creek, bore the brunt of the flood, with water levels reaching higher than 2 metres.

Shaken residents have described how quickly the water rose and how they could hear cries for help from neighbours.

High school teacher Shayne Walsh, 25, moved into his rental property a decade ago after being homeless — but he is again without a roof over his head and has lost nearly everything he owns.

"I've tried all week to the best I can, but I just can't salvage the place," he said.

"Even though it is not mine, this is my home; this is where I have spent the majority of my life."

His students have started a crowdfunding campaign to support Mr Walsh and his partner.

"I have had a lot of tough times, this time I need a bit of assistance and it's nice that people in the community are coming together to try to help," he said.

"We've got a friend who is going to give us some accommodation for a little while so we are going to try and find our feet and do what we can to make ends meet."

Clinging for life on a wheelie bin

Warren Horseborough lives on the street closest to the creek and was caught in the flood waters.

He clung to a floating garbage bin before being rescued by the NSW State Emergency Service from a tree.

"There was an Otto bin floating past and a couple of sheets of ply wood which I grabbed and I laid on the plywood and the wheels of the Otto bin and just proceeded to swim or kick my way down the driveway," Mr Horseborough said.

"The torrent was very strong; I still had my clothes and boots on.

"I just didn't realise how cold you get and once you start shivering and your fingers and your hands start cramping up, you start to lose control."

Mr Horseborough said he was surprised no one was seriously hurt or killed during the height of the flood.

Homes not insured due to unaffordable premiums

Sindy Duffield cried as she recounted fleeing into her attic with chickens, guinea pigs and her dogs as the water rose in her home.

"We waited and waited and waited until about nine o'clock when someone came and finally got us out of there," she said.

"The whole time we were there we were hearing our neighbours screaming for help."

Many homes on Elizabeth Street are not insured, with premiums in excess of $20,000 due to the high flood risk and heritage listings.

Ms Duffield said she had contents insurance but would have to pay for repairs to her flood-damaged property out of her own pocket.

Northern beaches 'no more important': State storm coordinator

State Disaster Recovery coordinator Dave Owens, who is overseeing the recovery and clean up efforts across NSW following the storm, toured Picton on Thursday.

"I am trying to fathom the force, just looking at the creek with the rainfall and the speed of the water what these local residents and shop owners in the community would have faced," Mr Owens said.

"It would have been frightening in the initial stages, and now it's about getting them back on their feet and how we help them do that."

Mr Owens denied that Collaroy in Sydney's northern beaches, where a dozen beachside homes were damaged, had been overly focused upon.

"That is why I am here now; northern beaches is no more important to me than what Picton is, than what the south coast is north coast is," he said.

Asked if he could give any certainty to people unsure whether they would be covered by insurance, he said insurance companies were yet to determine whether the damage would be classified as "storm" or "flood".

"All of the insurance companies have assessors out here today and they will be making decisions on what those assessors say," Mr Owens said.

"It is a waiting game."

Topics: weather, storm-event, picton-2571, wollongong-2500

First posted