Liverpool Plains Shire Council staff are discovering first-hand the effects of the weekend's flash flood on residents.
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Shire mayor Andrew Hope said they had been doing "big miles", visiting affected towns and carrying out damage assessments to put forward a case for emergency aid.
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Werris Creek, Wallabadah and Willow Tree were hit the hardest by the storms and Wallabadah's pump station was affected, making the water unsafe to drink.
One person reported 160mm of rain falling in Wallabadah in less than an hour.
"It's like dropping an Olympic pool on a town," Cr Hope said.
He said he'd visited a family there who had "lost everything" in the flood, which reached chest-height in their home.
"What do you say to those people? It's very sad," he said.
"It's been tough with drought and this on top of it."
Cr Hope and staff met with Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson and Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen in Werris Creek on Wednesday.
They discussed the council's intention to apply for a natural disaster declaration so it can get funding help.
Mr Anderson said Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott was expecting an application on his desk after they discussed the "devastation".
"We've provided Liverpool Plains Shire Council with information on the process and how to go about applying, so we'll stay connected with them to be sure we can help them in any way we can," Mr Anderson said.
Cr Hope said repairs to the washed-out pipeline between Quipolly Dam and Werris Creek's water supply was the biggest cost, but there were also a number of roads and bridges to factor in.
"We will definitely meet the criteria, but obviously the damage is so wide and broad across the community, so it's quite a bit of work to put together. We'll be working all week to collate that and hopefully submit it next week."
Cr Hope said he was unsure whether funding would be available to home owners or even the Werris Creek Golf Club, whose course was damaged.
"On the upside", farmers got a decent bit of rain and Quipolly Dam was "back up to the original level".
Cr Hope said council staff had been doing "unbelievable hours" in rough conditions as the clean-up in the shire continued.
"Please be patient. We're doing our best. Staff are stretched to their limits and delivering beyond the limits," he said.
Mr Anderson was full of praise for the council and volunteers.
"I want to thank all of those who worked when the storm hit on Friday, who have worked tirelessly to get essential services like electricity, communication lines and roads and water open, reconnected and operating again for the community," he said.
"They have done a stellar job and worked around the clock for the people of the Werris Creek community."