On this one street, half the residents lost entire homes to NSW floods
By
Annika Burgess
and
Jack Fisher
, ABC
Michael Wicks watched on as his family had to tear apart his flood-damaged home.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
Mick Wicks watched on from the porch as more and more of his belongings were dragged to the rubbish pile.
The 89-year-old's life heaped in front of him, covered in mud.
"It's all the memories," he said, becoming emotional.
"I never would have imagined this."
Mr Wicks has lost nearly everything after his Taree home went under water.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
Along Mr Wicks's street in Taree, nearly half the houses were under water in last week's
catastrophic NSW floods
.
Now they were being gutted, their contents strewn across front lawns.
Giant mounds of destroyed furniture, soiled mattress, clothes, toys and artwork.
Piles of debris line the streets as homes become unlivable.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
"It's just huge. Huge," Mick's daughter, Anneke Wicks, said.
"It was only fours years ago we had to deal with this. And this one was a lot bigger."
Ms Wicks lifted drenched photos from an old suitcase as her brothers tore apart rotting timber in the kitchen.
"We just put stuff up on beds thinking that would be enough," she said.
Anneke Wicks tried to salvage what was left of her dad's belongings.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
After 2021, many residents were not expecting another flood so soon - it had been described as a "one-in-100-year" weather event.
This time around it was much worse.
Taree was one of the worst-hit areas along the mid-north coast, copping 500mm of rain in a matter of days.
"It's hard going through this all over again," Ms Wicks said.
"We can ultimately replace furniture, but people being displaced is the big issue."
Mr Wicks kitchen was completely destroyed.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
It took several days for the flood waters to recede, and become safe enough to return to the street.
When neighbour Terry Spinks opened his front door, he was shocked.
"Everything was upside down," he said.
"I've lost virtually everything. We haven't had much to salvage this time."
Terry Spinks never imagined water levels would surpass the 2021 floods.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
The 77-year-old rebuilt his home after the 2021 floods, but the newer materials were still no match for the deluge.
"It's marvellous what water does - it just puts things everywhere, and gets into everything," he said.
"We put everything up high and thought it would be ok. But that's why we lost so much."
Mr Spinks thought his belongings would be safe if he stored them up high.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
Going door to door speaking to residents, there was exhaustion and frustration.
Many spoke about being thankful for family and the outpouring of community support.
But there was widespread disappointment with the government's response.
Some residents say they lack the financial support to rebuild their lives.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
More than 500 properties across the region have been declared uninhabitable, and an estimated 10,000 damaged.
Many homes and businesses were left uninsured after 2021.
Locals said some insurance companies were asking up to $30,000 a year for cover.
Jake was unaware that the flood risk at his rental property would so severe.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
The federal government is offering jointly funded Personal Hardship Payments - administered by NSW.
But the one-off payments of $180, and up to $900 for a family of five or more, have been scoffed at by some Taree residents.
"It's a joke," local resident Jake said.
"One hundred and eighty dollars is barely enough to help me purchase food, let alone other essentials we need.
Jake was renting a house at the end of the Taree street.
He evacuated in the middle of the night when waters were rapidly rising above his ankles.
It ended up nearly engulfing the entire house, reaching above the windows.
Jake points out how high the floodwaters reached at the house.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
"Mentally and emotionally I'm not as affected as some people would be," Jake said.
"There was a poor lady up the street who was screaming and wailing.
"Our government really needs to look at the resources it has and evenly distribute it however it can."
Without family living in town, Jake doesn't know what he would have done.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
Jake has decided to leave Taree.
Others from the community are camping out in caravans, or staying with family and friends as they start from scratch.
Mr Wicks was thankful to have his family so close during such a traumatic time.
Photo:
ABC News: Jack Fisher
Michael Wicks is hoping he can return to the home he lived in for more than 35 years.
And that he will be there for another decade when he reaches his 100th birthday.
"I can make it to the big one zero zero, I just don't want to live through another one of these," he said.
"Some people have it worse off than me. Some people don't have families. I'm just lucky I have family around."
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