The generosity and outpouring of support startled Anne-Maree Walton and her family, who have since joined the Salvation Army Emergency Service.

Mrs Walton and her husband Peter were holed up in their Charles Street home in Raymond Terrace, with their daughter Sally Lee and her husband, Brennan, when the storm hit. The water gurgled in the drain outside their back door before it inundated their living room and kitchen. The power was knocked out and Mrs Walton prepared dinner on a camp stove that first night.

"We've still got the water mark on the ceiling where the roof leaked," she said.

"We stayed in the house because we were worried people would take our stuff.

"The next morning we fed and watered the animals and went up to the evacuation centre. We had no food left and the freezer was out so we had lost all that food, too."

The storm cut power to 15,000 homes across Port Stephens. The NSW State Emergency Service responded to more than 800 calls for assistance when strong winds uprooted trees and damaged homes. Many roads were cut as flood waters swelled. It left some people with no choice but to ditch work and ride out the storm. The Salvation Army assisted the SES with the operation of the evacuation centre at the Senior Citizens Hall in Raymond Terrace.

"They really welcomed us. They offered us a meal straight away," she said.

When a bus load of bread arrived the family helped unload it. And that night they helped prepare 150 food hampers for people stranded at Dungog and Gillieston Heights, near Maitland.

Mrs Walton even tried to pitch in with the cooking.

"It made us want to help. But they whisked me out of the kitchen because I hadn't had the training," she said.

The family was without electricity for eight days. When they were allowed home the Salvation Army gave them a voucher to help with groceries. Soon after the event the family attended the first of several training sessions. Since then they've helped the Salvation Army with a few fundraisers including the Newcastle Toy Run in December where they cooked and served a barbecue.

"It was our first fundraiser and it was a lot of fun," Mrs Lee said.

Mr Walton said it was a memorable day.

"It was a hot day and I was sweating like no one's business. But it was great to be part of that,” he said.

Mrs Walton “loved helping out” in the January storm when the family had lunch served up in no time.

"That's how we feel doing what we do. It's the look on people's faces," Mr Lee said.