Photos that show the devastation caused by floods in NSW

Grocery store shelves have been stripped bare by panicked residents in Port Macquarie after a once in a century rain event.

Large parts of the New South Wales Mid North Coast have been hit by once-in-100-year floods, while Sydney’s west is facing the worst inundations in 50 years.

Homes have been lost, businesses ruined and communities devastated.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced today that more than 38 areas of the state are now “disaster zones”, with more than 18,000 people now evacuated.

Forecasters have warned the worst may still be to come, with a second major rain wave predicted across NSW tonight and tomorrow.

Here are the photos that best highlight the destruction caused by the relentless rain.

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Empty shelves at Port Macquarie Lighthouse Coles. Picture: Dan Mills

Floodwaters on Wolseley Road at McGraths Hill near Windsor. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

And how it looked before.

Homes were also seen surrounded by rising flood waters on North St, Windsor on Monday 22 March, 2021.

Residents of North St Windsor have started evacuating or moving stuff to higher ground. Picture: John Grainger

The damage at McGraths Hill near Windsor. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Floodwaters on Old Hawkesbury Road at McGraths Hill near Windsor. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

An emu is stranded in a flooded paddock near Williamtown near Williamtown. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Peter Lorimer

Residents row past a home that has been completely covered by floodwaters in the suburb of Vineyard, near Windsor. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

Kempsey residents check the water levels at the town’s levy wall. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Homes in Bellevue Road Regentville NSW western Sydney affected by floods. Steven Wilson and Geoff Ryan removing damaged furniture. PictureÕs Darren Leigh Roberts

A man is seen kayaking in floodwaters near a farm shed at McGraths Hill. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Daylight revels how high the water has risen over night at the Unfloodable Windsor bridge and surrounding streets. Picture: John Grainger

A family was rescued from waters at Tuncurry caravan park in the early hours of Monday 22 March 2021. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

Looking over the Nepean Bridge towards Warragamba Dam. Picture: Toby Zerna

A kayaker attempts to rescue a cow on the mid-north coast.

A building goes under water at Pitt Town, McGraths Hill. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

Volunteers from NSW SES Bankstown Unit reunited this dog with its owners in Penrith. Picture: Western Sydney NSW SES

NSW SES Ryde volunteer rescued a 5 month old infant, a child, 4 adults and 3 dogs in Londonderry. Picture: NSW SES Ryde Unit

A man holds an umbrella as he looks at the rising flood waters under the Nepean Bridge at Regentville. Picture: Toby Zerna

There’s major flooding in Port Macquarie and surrounding towns. Picture: Nathan Edwards

A flooded petrol station is seen near Windsor in Sydney. Picture: Jenny Evans

That should not be there. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

A resident tries to make his way back home in Port Macquarie. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Rising flood waters threaten homes along River Rd in Emu Plains. Picture: Toby Zerna

An exhausted cow washed up in a Port Macquarie caravan park after it was swept away by floodwaters up river. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Children getting sprayed with floodwaters. Picture: Saeed KHAN / AFP

Inside a flooded home on the NSW mid-north coast. Picture: Nathan Edwards

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