Residents in four NSW LGAs impacted by the floods will have access to the federal Disaster Recovery Allowance.
Residents in Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Dungog and the Mid Coast Council will be able to access 13 weeks of emergency payments, Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said.
The payment is to cover lost salary for those who will not be able to work while their homes are affected by floodwaters on the NSW Mid North Coast.
“It is to assist people who have been impacted with up to 13 weeks’ allowance, in lieu of them being able to undertake their usual course of employment,” McBain said.
“This is still a dynamic and changing situation, and as we’ve heard … unfortunately, there has been a fatality.”
The federal and NSW governments had already activated disaster recovery funding arrangements for 16 LGAs.
“We remain open to helping NSW if there are any further requests,” McBain said.
How to claim the Disaster Recovery Allowance
The allowance will be available through Services Australia.
Residents will need a MyGov account to make a claim.
McBain could not confirm how long it would take to get payments in the pockets of affected residents, but she said the government is “working on it”.
It is also not confirmed how much the affected residents would get.
Premier Chris Minns this morning said the flood was a “natural disaster”.
One man has died from the floods and there are reports of three others missing.
Another 100mm of rain is expected to fall over the region in the next 24 hours, as floodwaters reach roofs and treetops.
