Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Mid-Coast, Nambucca Valley and Port Macquarie-Hastings local government areas are covered through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

These assistance measures are now available to help people get back on their feet and help councils get on with the clean-up and repairs to infrastructure.

Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said the government is committed to ensuring the region is supported in its recovery from this serious weather event.

"Significant rainfall, severe winds and widespread flooding has threatened lives and caused widespread damage to roads and properties across eastern New South Wales," Mr Conaghan said.

"We know that these communities are resilient and, with the support of the Australian government, they will recover quicker and stronger from this set-back."

New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said communities experienced significant disruption due to heavy rainfall and flooding over several days, including damage to and closure of roads and schools.

"The assistance being announced today will help cover the costs associated with the operational response and support households, small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profit organisations and councils as they continue to repair damaged assets and essential public assets, such as roads," Minister Elliot said.

Assistance available may include:

Seven evacuation centres are open on Mid North Coast with regions from Nambucca Heads to Forster experiencing widespread flood devastation.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the last time this region suffered major floods it passed within a few days, but this weather event is significant with the heavy rain unlikely to stop until Thursday or Friday this week.

"To residents of the Mid North Coast, the Hunter, Central Coast and metropolitan Sydney please be on high alert. It's not going to be an easy week for us," the Premier said.

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.

To apply for a concessional loan or grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au

Further information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian government's Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and Service NSW at disasterassistance.service.nsw.gov.au

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