Original article published on The Daily Telegraph 6 June 1015 by Matt Taylor

Disaster relief payments have topped $29 million for Central Coast residents following the deadly super storm in late April.

More than 24,000 claims on the Coast, totalling $29.7 million, have been granted for the Disaster Recovery Payment, the Department of Human Services reported last week.

The damage bill for the cyclonic storm that wreaked havoc on the Coast, Hunter, Sydney and Illawarra is nearing $1 billion, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).

“Insurance losses so far total $801.7 million ($629.6 million for domestic claims, $172.1 million for commercial),” an ICA spokeswoman said.

Gosford City and Wyong Shire were declared natural disaster zones after winds up to 135km/h (the equivalent of a tropical cyclone category 2) brought hundreds of large trees down on houses, power lines and roads, 15m waves battered boats along the coastline, and an 87-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a car in East Gosford.

Wyong Council last week estimated the cost of the Shire’s clean-up would be in excess of $3 million.

Wyong State Emergency Services crews had to respond to 2560 calls for assistance during the storm event — the largest number across the Coast and Hunter.

A Disaster Recovery Centre was set up at the Wyong Grove Community Hub in the aftermath of the storm. More than 300 residents took the opportunity to talk directly to government agencies before it closed a fortnight ago.

 

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