It's official - Tweed has been declared a natural disaster
TWEED Shire has been declared a natural disaster area.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell announced 10 Local Government Areas will have access to jointly-funded national disaster assistance following extensive flooding around NSW.
The NSW SES has been inundated with calls for assistance with the heavy rain, strong winds and flash flooding bringing down power lines and trees and ripping roofs off homes.
According to the SES, it received 2900 requests for assistance as severe weather and flooding continues to affect eastern NSW.
"With nearly 1000 calls, the Richmond Tweed SES Region has received the highest number of requests, and approximately 1900 people remain isolated in the Richmond Tweed and Clarence Nambucca Regions," the SES said in a statement.
"A total of 17 flood rescues have been performed since 5pm on Sunday, mainly in the Murwillumbah area."
The federal government's declaration of a natural disaster triggers a number of disaster assistance schemes to assist with the cost of disaster relief and recovery.
