After a night of heavy rain and strong winds, the Bureau of Meteorology has advised that the threat of further severe weather in the region has passed.
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Fire crews were called to Stockton around 8.25pm after a large section of roof on a nursing home was blown off. A spokesperson for NSW Fire and Rescue said there were no injuries reported. Residents were found safely evacuated as four trucks arrived to lend assistance.
The latest on this issue: 10,000 still without power in Hunter, SES crews to work through Tuesday, November 17
Firefighters also responded to another minor incident after a lightning strike on a building caused insulation to smoulder. Two crews were on the scene on Monday evening, but the situation was understood to be well under control.
Newcastle SES crews responded to numerous calls for assistance after gusty winds down trees and wires across the suburbs, trapping a resident in one instance after a tree fell on their home at Wallsend. Unit Commander Ian Robinson said the man was uninjured, and that crews were lending quick assistance.
Newcastle SES responded to around 46 calls for assistance in as many minutes from just before 8pm to around 8.45pm, Mr Robinson said with assistance from branches at Swansea and Wyong.
Downed wires on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at Shortland, and on the Pacific Highway at Sandgate, blacked out traffic lights and resulted in heavy traffic on both roads as emergency services responded.
And thousands of homes across the greater Newcastle area went dark as widespread blackouts blanketed the region.
Residents have been urged to keep safe by avoiding any fallen powerlines, to move their vehicles under cover, and to secure loose items around the house and on balconies where possible.
Blackouts should be reported to Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) depending on residents' provider, SES has advised.
Storms follow a hot and sunny day in the Hunter; the first taste of summer as temperatures climbed into the high-30s in parts of the region on Monday.
Ausgrid has advised the following suburbs are impacted by power outages include:
- Around 1300 homes at Raymond Terrace (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 3400 homes at Stockton and Fern Bay (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 400 homes at Sadgate and Shortland (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 1500 homes at Mayfield and Mayfield West (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 1800 homes at Shortland (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 400 homes at Sandgate (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 1300 homes at Maryland (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 100 homes at Wallsend (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 60 homes at New Lambton (Assessment underway)
- Around 800 homes at Adamstown, Adamstown Heights, Merewether Heights, Merewether, Highfields and Kahibah (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 2200 homes at Kahibah (Assessment underway)
- Around 2600 homes at Charlestown and Warners Bay (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
- Around 1700 homes at Garden Suburb, Cardiff, Charlestown, Kotara, Kotara South, Cardiff South, New Lambton Heights and Adamstown (Estimated time to restore power: 10am, Tuesday)
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move your car under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
- Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
- Unplug computers and appliances.
- Avoid using the phone during the storm.
- Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
- Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
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