Thread: NSW South Coast Windstorm

Just returned home from what was supposed to be a Father's Day celebration & a relaxing couple of days at Callala Beach with Sheila's folks...

Got a call from Sheila's dad at 6.15am yesterday - no power. A huge branch had fallen across the powerlines and taken out their house and the one next door (a weekender).

The drive down there from here usually takes around 2hrs 20mins. It took over 4 hours in which would have been the most horrific wind and driving conditions I have ever experienced. Branches were blowing across the Highway, the Disco, and every other vehicle on the road, "swayed" in the wind.

On the south side of Kiama we came across the first hold up, 2 caravans had been blown over: the tow ball connecting car to van on the first one had been twisted badly, the van was on its side while the tow vehicle was still upright The second van was totally upside down on its roof and the tow vehicle was sitting on it's rear wheels with the front wheels about a meter off the ground.

About one kilometer further several huge trees had fallen across the Highway and we had to detour via the Gerringong exit. The number of trees down in Gerringong was amazing, almost every street had fallen trees blocking driveways etc. Back on the Princes Hwy a few k's south, another tree had come down & was halfway across the road. SES/Police were controlling traffic as best they could, but it was slow going.

The rest of the trip was very slow due to tree debris on the roads. The shocking conditions meant for very careful driving. The ocean looked amazing...almost "boiling" and the waves were massive.

On arrival at Sheila's parents, we realised that our "relaxing" day or two was just not to be.

Lucky I took the chainsaw & trailer.... it took us a day and a half to lop fallen branches and clean up. Gas cookers and lanterns were used for cooking & lighting.

Power was reconnected today at 4pm. (after 36 hours) and after seeing and hearing of the terrible damage to the Illawarra/Sth. Coast area, they are lucky to have been connected so quickly. Those Integral boys are working like champions.

All the best to our Victorian friends who are affected by floodwaters.

(Sorry I have no pics for the above, I simply forgot to take the camera).

Originally Posted by Lucy

One of my staff who lives at Sanctuary Point just borrowed my Generator; they've been told it might take another day or two to get their power back on!

We survived unscathed in Nowra.

Glad you survived OK in Nowra. The Integral team who came to Callala Beach (who were from Moss Vale) told us that Sanctuary Point was one of the worst hit areas. Hope your friend manages OK.