Australia Weather News

Residents in rain-hit parts of New South Wales have been told not to drive through floodwaters after a number of people had to be rescued from their vehicles.

NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Commissioner Michael Wassing said there were still 148 flood warnings across the state and that the SES had taken part in 768 flood rescues, almost all on the state's Mid North Coast.

He said most of the rescues were associated with people driving through floodwaters.

"I understand why people, now the rain has stopped, will be up and about and moving around, but you cannot drive through floodwaters," he said.

"It is taking up valuable emergency services personnel time, efforts and priorities that are needed elsewhere."

Mr Wassing said driving through floodwater was a "key life risk".

The commissioner said between 8,000 and 10,000 properties had been impacted by the flood events.

He said the clean-up was not an operation that would take just a few days.

"We are conscious that many of the community members are still in evacuation centres here today," he said.

"They are tired and they want to get home. We get that, and we will work with them to keep them informed of when the right time is to do that and support them in terms of the clean-up operations and … whether it is financial or [where] we are conscious of the long haul in terms of mental health impacts."

Thousands of people are without power and tens of thousands remain isolated.

A fifth death was reported on Friday evening. But a man reported missing on Wednesday evening has been found safe and well.

Sunny skies but flood warnings remain

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said despite sunny skies, a series of flood warnings remained in place, including for major flooding at Bulga on the Wollombi Brook.

She said while NSW would see generally dry conditions across the weekend, a cold front would bring "very windy conditions" across the state on Monday and Tuesday, particularly in coastal areas.

"We are expecting some of those flood levels to slowly recede through the course of the weekend and into early next week but those flood warnings remain current," she said.

1,600 insurance claims lodged

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has already received 1,600 claims from the flood event.

ICA CEO Andrew Hall said a lot more would land with insurers over the weekend and in the weeks to come.

"We have had up to 50,000 people over the past few days evacuated from their properties, unable to return to their properties," he said.

"As the water recedes, people get back to their homes and find they have had some damage and they need to lodge a claim."

Meanwhile, Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said disaster recovery funding arrangements would become available from 2pm on Monday.

Disaster recovery funding arrangements have been enacted for 19 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

People who have lost earnings as a result of the floods may also be eligible for a payment called Disaster Recovery Allowance.