Recovery information
Recovering from a flood can be slow, difficult and often emotionally exhausting. Once the danger of the flood has passed, find information and support to help you.
The NSW SES will advise when it is safe for residents and businesses to return to a flood-affected area and provides steps to consider when returning to your property after a flood. They also highlight various risks to be aware of and advise on general and electrical safety and cleaning up.
Fire and Rescue NSW has compiled a checklist to assist people affected by bushfires. It is designed to help you get started. The NSW Rural Fire Service has developed a series of FAQs and key contacts to help you find the necessary assistance to rebuild.
Mental health and wellbeing support
Living through a natural hazard or emergency can adversely affect your mental health and wellbeing. It is normal to experience a range of emotions before, during, or after an emergency event and sometimes much later. Your sleep, mood and daily routines might be impacted. Support is available for you and the people around you.
If you or someone you know needs specialist mental health care, call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. It is a free service operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, staffed by specialist mental health professionals who offer mental health advice and referrals to local mental health services.
For free health advice anytime, day or night, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. If you need support in your language, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.
The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) also provides information and links to mental health support for people affected by natural hazards and emergencies. Contact your local RAMHP Coordinator for help, or access fact sheets, podcasts and self-help tools on the RAMHP website.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please call 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732 for 24-hour confidential information, counselling and support services. Or in case of an emergency, please dial 000.
Children and young people can call Kids Helpline at any time on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at the website. Young people can also visit headspace or ReachOut.
For non-crisis mental health support, please call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36.
There’s also a range of online resources to support you and your loved ones. Please visit Beyond Blue and Lifeline online.
Legal and financial advice and assistance
For free legal help, including insurance claims and disputes, housing and tenancy, financial hardship, workplace rights, Centrelink, domestic and family violence and government disaster grants, call the Disaster Response Legal Service NSW on 1800 801 529 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Disaster recovery map
Use the NSW Government's disaster recovery map to find local information about disaster recovery, road closures, hazard alerts, waste removal and development application processes.
Replacing ID, licences and personal documents
If your identification, licences, certificates, permits, registrations, or documents are lost or damaged, you can apply for replacements using these useful instructions from the NSW Government.
Landlords’ and tenants’ rights
When properties are affected by natural hazards like floods, tenants and landlords have rights and responsibilities under NSW laws.
Staying healthy
When cleaning up after a flood, remember to look after yourself. This checklist from NSW Health outlines precautions you can take to prevent illness and keep yourself safe.
After a bushfire, review this advice from NSW Health on how to return home safely.
Recovery Support Services
If you have been impacted by disaster, Recovery Support Services (RSS) will help you in your recovery journey by providing free, personalised, inclusive, short, medium and long-term support.
RSS will link you to a recovery support worker, who can help you navigate and access services and available disaster assistance.
No formal referral is required to access the Recovery Support Services. There is no cost, participation is voluntary and you have a choice of providers.