Rains in New South Wales may be easing, but the threat of flooding and landslides remains, with tens of thousands of residents still under evacuation orders.
About 700 NSW residents called for help overnight as water rose and torrential rain ravaged the Hunter and mid-north coast regions.
Authorities are considering reversing evacuation orders and warnings in some communities.
But Chief Inspector Ashley Sullivan of the state emergency service said 40,000 people are still among the 69 evacuation orders still in effect.
“There are a lot of risks and it’s not over yet,” he told Seven Network on Friday morning.
“We still have a few days, if not a few weeks.”
Heavy rainfall may have abated to the relief of thousands of NSW residents, but severe flooding still poses risks in saturated watersheds.
Major flood warnings were issued on Thursday for the lower Hunter River, Wollombi Brook and Tuggerah Lake, with the Bureau of Meteorology noting that some parts of the Hunter had reached record highs.
The risk of landslides, falling trees and flash flooding is still present after continued heavy rainfall over several days in multiple regions.
Parts of the NSW coast also still had dangerous surf and sea wind warnings in place.
The agency said on Thursday major flooding is likely to occur in Maitland, in the lower Hunter, through Friday, despite clearing for much of the state.
Further south, the cleanup has already begun with a visit to Camden, one of the areas worst hit by the latest floods.
Financial assistance to flood-affected communities has been extended to six additional local government areas, bringing the total of disaster-declared municipal areas to 29.
Federal Emergency Management Secretary Murray Watt said severe weather and flooding will continue to affect many areas of NSW, and numerous evacuation orders are still in effect.
“The flood waters may decrease in some areas, but we know there are other regions that are still in the emergency where the focus will be on keeping our communities safe,” he said.
Ms Cooke said significant recovery support would be needed to help flood victims get back on their feet.
“Declaring a natural disaster is an essential first step towards getting a range of support out the door and into the pockets of individuals, families, farmers and business owners,” she said.