House roofs, buildings, powerlines, trees, roads and even trampolines were all in the firing line of devastating winds and storms which hit the Port Stephens LGA with a vengeance on Monday night.
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While the wind gusts of more than 100 kilometres an hour caused widespread damage across Port Stephens, fortunately there were no reports of injuries or road accidents.
Alysha Springett, the deputy unit commander of the SES Port Stephens Unit, said that the local SES services fielded a large number of calls throughout the night, starting at 5pm on Monday.
"We had calls for the dislodgement of house roofs predominantly in the Raymond Terrace area, powerlines down, trees damaged and strewn across roads and trampolines picked up reportedly flying down the streets," she said.
"Our crews worked on repairing damaged roofs and buildings and removing broken tree branches from roads.
"They were kept busy working through to 1am and were back out on Tuesday morning finishing off the less urgent jobs."
The wild weather knocked out power to more than 3000 premises across the Port on Monday night.
On the Tomaree peninsula, there was the temporary road closure of Soldiers Point Road at the intersection of Cromarty Road on Monday night due to a large tree which had fallen across the road.
While Ausgrid had reconnected power to premises in Eagleton, East Seaham, Raymond Terrace and Twelve Mile Creek on Tuesday morning, there were still more than 1000 premises without power across Medowie, Tomago, Williamtown, the Tilligerry Peninsula and around Soldiers Point on Tuesday afternoon.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds with peak gusts reaching up to 90 to 100km/h remained in place for the Hunter on Tuesday, with the BOM forecasting further winds averaging averaging 50 to 65km/h on Wednesday.
The Port can expect further chilly weather with top temperatures of up to 16 degrees forecast for the rest of the week, and into the weekend.
The BOM warned that with the ground being so wet from recent persistent rain, there was an increased risk of gusty winds toppling trees and powerlines.
Ms Springett urged all Port Stephens residents to remain vigilant.
"Our message to householders is to ensure that all outdoor furniture, including trampolines, are secured, report any powerline damage to Ausgrid (131 388), report building damage or assistance to SES NSW (132 500) and for any emergency or life threatening situations call Triple 0."
The Hunter coast, which includes Port Stephens, is also subject to a marine wind warning.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
- Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
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