The assistance was jointly announced on February 13 by Cowper MP Pat Conaghan and Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams.

The assistance is being provided through the jointly funded disaster recovery funding arrangement.

North Shore homes and oyster growers were impacted by a freak storm on February 3, destroying several homes and oyster sheds during. Floods followed shortly after with minor flood warnings issues over several days.

Northside Progress Association president Kingsley Searle welcomed access to the disaster funding but said some homeowners were only just discovering storm damage to their homes.

"North Shore and Port Macquarie residents who are fighting hardship following the storms and recent flooding are encouraged to apply for grants," he said.

"The funding covers various issues including financial difficulty or if they were uninsured.

"But people are now only really discovering possible storm damage. Tiles may have been dislodged or other damage and that leads to roofs leaking - just about every second house has been impacted in some way.

"Having us declared a natural disaster means we have avenues available to us that were not available before," he said.

The progress association will meet Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on Tuesday February 18 to learn how council may be able to access further funding to help with the clean-up.

"The Association acknowledges and thanks council, state and federal governments and government agencies for their help," he added.

Mr Searle said residents were initially in shock following the storm and now floods but were now in a recovery mode.

"It's been an exceptional effort from everyone - it's all combined to helps us in this recovery process."

Mr Searle said it was also important to learn from the storm, bushfire and flooding events and put in place strategies to overcome any issues.

Mr Conaghan said the funding will help severely impacted individuals, small businesses and farmers recover from the severe storm we saw come through this month.

"Grants are also available to assist individuals with the cost of replacing damaged essential household items such as bedding, furniture, clothing and white goods," he said.

"Concessional interest rate loans for direct damage to small business and farms are also available, plus there are transport freight subsidies for farmers for up to 50 per cent on the carriage of livestock and fodder.

"If you have been severely impacted by storms or flood water, consider calling the relevant authorities to see if you are eligible for assistance."

Mrs Williams said the declaration was also important for council as the state government would now be able to help council with the costs of its recovery measures and repairs to public infrastructure.

"Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has suffered damage to roads and infrastructure due to the storms this month, plus it has a lot of work to do to remove debris and get public assets repaired, so this declaration will help them," Ms Williams said.

"Special assistance is also available to local sporting clubs and voluntary non-profit organisations unable to fund the restoration of essential facilities damaged or destroyed in this disaster."

If you are uninsured and have low income, for information on personal hardship and distress assistance, please contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444.

If you are an individual and require assistance to replace damaged essential household items or would like to apply for a grant contribution toward essential structural repairs to your home to make it safe and inhabitable contact 1800 018 444.

If your business or farm has been affected by storms or flood damage contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au

If you are a member of a sporting group or charity and require assistance to restore essential facilities contact NSW Treasury on 9228 4380.

Further information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au

Some assistance grants are subject to income and asset testing.

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