Eight rivers on flood alert
AS WILD weather clears across NSW and Victoria, regional towns in both states are bracing for more bursting river banks.
Already, a state of emergency has been declared in much of South-East Victoria including the Gippsland region where whole towns have been evacuated.
While gale-force winds and storms have eased, constant rain has caused 16 of the state's major rivers and lakes to overflow.
In NSW, eight rivers are on flood alert following two days of wet.
The bulk of the heavy rain fell around Sydney and the Central Coast on Tuesday and yesterday before heading north.
More than 20,000 homes across the state were left without power on Tuesday night.
City business owners were left with some mopping up and repair jobs but the full extent of the damage will only be known once rivers in notorious flood zones have reached their peaks later in the week.
Patches of heavy rain are expected to continue to hit parts of the Mid-North Coast and the Northern Rivers.
At the time of going to press a coastal wind warning remained in place for the Mid North Coast.
Rain was not expected to let up in the worst affected areas of Victoria.
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said financial assistance would be offered to Victorian families impacted by the floods through the Federal Government's Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Scheme.
Under the scheme families can apply for up to $480 per adult and $240 per child with a maximum of $1200 per house to cover emergency food, shelter and clothing.
Up to $30,000 per house is available for emergency accommodation, repairs and replacing household necessities.
Along with the rain, chilly conditions are expected across the country's east for the rest of the week with overnight temperatures in some parts of Victoria, NSW and South-East Queensland dropping below zero.
