The mayor of Walgett Shire Council has called on the New South Wales Government to declare a state of disaster in Carinda.

Councillor Jasen Ramien has contacted the government for support to make the declaration as community members and emergency workers clean up the devastated town.

This comes after severe winds downed trees and power poles on Sunday, cutting power and peeling the roofs off homes and businesses.

“The natural disaster declaration will allow us to make the decisions we need to begin our recovery, knowing we have the necessary support,” Cr Ramien said.

Local Government Areas covered by natural disaster declarations gain access to support including transport subsidies, business grants and extra funds emergency assistance like sandbagging.

IMAGE: Rachel Lamph

Declarations need approval from the state and federal governments, plus assessments on the scale and damage of an event.

They can take days or weeks depending on how pressing the situation is.

“The first responders have been doing a tremendous job with the clean up, but now councils, families and businesses need more certainty as they begin to count the cost of the damage,” Shadow Minister for Western NSW Sarah Mitchell said.

Minister focus on immediate assistance

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said his immediate focus is on providing assistance to residents.

“My thoughts are with those impacted by this weather event, which has caused significant damage to this community," he said.

“I’d also like to thank the emergency first responders from the NSW SES, RFS and emergency service partners who are doing everything they can to get services restored and assessments undertaken.

“I have also asked the NSW Reconstruction Authority to work with emergency services and the local council to explore what support is needed and ensure assessments are undertaken as quickly as possible to determine if further assistance can be made available under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements with the Commonwealth Government.” 

Minister Dib would not confirm whether the government will declare the region a disaster zone when approached for comment.

Telegraph polls 'snapped off'

Carinda Hotel owner Malcolm George was at the pub when the storm hit.

He saw wind push telegraph poles out of place. "Snapped them off," he said.

"It was just like a tornado you see on TV like over in America."

He said the pub lost a sheet of iron off the roof while the fences, laundry and shed were blown away.

At other properties, the damage was more extensive, with the roof of the pizza shop at Far West Store all torn off.

The storm front that ravaged Carinda lashed the Western Plains and caused headaches for the SES, who reported 49 incidents in its Western Zone, mostly for fallen trees.

At least 12 properties 'uninhabitable'

Initial damage assessments from the SES indicate least 12 properties are severely damaged and uninhabitable in the town, with power and mobile services being supported by generators.

SES volunteers from Dubbo, Tamworth, Nyngan, Walgett and Warren have travelled to Carinda to help with the clean up.

 Welfare services have been established as the SES prepares to resupply the community with drinking water.

NSW SES incident controller, Chief Superintendent Brigid Rice, said the service's priority was ensuring properties are safe, undertaking impact assessments and supporting displaced residents. 

“These homes are likely to be without power until at least tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday).. Mobile communications are also intermittent due to the damage in the area,” she said.

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