MidCoast Council mayor David West has urged flood victims to have their properties assessed for damage which can go undetected.
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This follow Cr West's recent visit to flood affected homes in Taree and Wingham with Governor-General David Hurley.
The governor-general wanted to assess the damage caused by the floods and meet with emergency services, in town as part of Operation NSW Flood Assist, at the MidCoast Council Emergency Operations Centre.
While visiting a home in Wingham, Cr West and Governor-General Hurley were told by a Fire and Rescue NSW crew the site suffered from class three water damage.
The crew assessed the top floor of the house, which wasn't directly damaged by the flood, and discovered water had spread from the lower floors up the walls and created mould and mildew.
This was caused by category three water, also known as black water.
The unsanitary water is polluted and full of bacteria and fungi, which can cause illness.
When houses dry after a flood, the gyprock in the wall absorbs the moisture.
"Lots of homes have been cleared of mud but the water has gone behind the gyprock," Cr West explained.
"Fire and Rescue are tearing gyprock from dry homes to make sure people are safe."
NSW Health advised residents to wear protective gloves when cleaning up after the flood. Flood water contaminated by sewage and chemicals can cause skin and stomach infections
Cr West was saddened by the number of homes, businesses and buildings affected by the natural disaster.
Of those assessed for flood damage 235 (or 35 per cent) were deemed unsound. That's more damage than that caused by the 2019 bushfire crisis.
"I was devastated to see what's happened," Cr West said.
"I want to thank everyone who has put the time in to help clean-up, which has given strength and hope to those who have lost everything.
"I've seen that strength and hope everywhere I've been. I saw people brokenhearted but they are driven to recover."
Cr West urged those in need to visit MidCoast Council's flood recovery centre in the former council chambers building in Pulteney Street.
Politicians visit flood ravaged communities
Governor-General David Hurley travelled from Hobart to Canberra and finally Taree to assess the flood damage in the Manning area.
Two days before, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud were joined by Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie and Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead to visit the Australia Defence Force contingent at the Macquarie Barracks in Taree.
The prime minister and Mr Littleproud visited SES volunteers and other ADF personnel in Port Macquarie earlier in the day alongside NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan and Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams.
