In the New South Wales village of Croki, residents are confronting the aftermath of severe flooding that swept through their homes, leaving a thick layer of mud covering every inch of their properties.

The swollen Manning River inundated the area, forcing Michelle Bennett and her partner, Mario Agius, to elevate their belongings as the water reached waist height.

Bennett described the situation as overwhelming, and expressed uncertainty about how to commence the clean-up or how to finance the repairs.

Prior to the floods, Bennett and Agius received a quote for flood insurance of approximately $35,000, a dramatic increase from their previous premium of $3,500 following the 2021 floods.

As a result, they opted for standard home insurance, leaving them uncovered against flooding damage.

The couple, like many of their neighbours, now face significant losses and obstacles in securing future insurance.

Reports indicate that nearly all residents in Croki experienced extensive damage to their homes, with the village’s two main streets still submerged.

Cars remain abandoned as they were left in the rush during the flooding.

The road into Croki is currently closed, isolating the community, with access only possible by boat.

In nearby Taree, the flooding has also had significant impacts.

Hugh McLeod, a local rowing club committee member, noted that many residents had been separated from their families and have faced loss of income as businesses experienced severe damage.

Streets in Taree are lined with piles of damaged furniture and discarded goods as local businesses begin the slow and difficult process of recovery.

Ahmed al-Abboodi, a local barber, reported that his business would remain closed for weeks, but emphasized the safety of his family as a priority amid the disaster.

The community has shown resilience as residents join efforts to help each other clean out and salvage what they can from affected businesses.

The recent flooding in the Manning River has been marked as the worst since 1929, leading to criticism from locals regarding the timing of evacuation warnings prior to the flooding.

Many residents felt that they received inadequate notice to evacuate, resulting in scenarios where escape routes became impassable by water.

MidCoast Council Mayor Claire Pontin indicated that recovery efforts would be challenging and lengthy, projecting that hundreds of homes may be uninhabitable due to the flooding.

Despite the scale of destruction, she expressed confidence in the community’s ability to support one another through the recovery process.

As residents begin the clean-up, Bennett noted that the process would require patience and gradual efforts.

While uncertainties remain regarding insurance and future flooding events, the community's focus lies on recovery and restoration to normalcy.