The Red Cross has kicked off its charity appeal for the NSW floods, saying many of those affected were also knocked over by the 2019-20 bushfire season and were just "starting to get on their feet again".
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Red Cross NSW director Poppy Brown told reporters the organisation was operating in eight evacuation centres across flood-hit NSW.
Almost 24,000 people around the state remain cast from their homes as torrential rain ceases but flood risks linger until the weekend.
Ms Brown said 55 Red Cross workers have been on the ground since Friday and almost 1400 people have registered with the charity's reunification service.
The charity was now looking for donations to fund financial support for flood victims, and requested people donate blood and clothes if they can.
Ms Brown said some of the flooded areas - such as northwest Sydney and the NSW mid-north coast - also bore the brunt of the 2019-20 bushfires.
She said it would take years for those communities to recover.
"As hopefully people are able to go home in coming days, the total scale of the devastation will be apparent," Ms Brown said on Wednesday.
"It has been a very difficult situation for people, a lot of people were evacuated quickly ... cold and wet, with their kids, animals, in a state of trauma and shock.
"A lot of people are saying to us ... they just felt like they were starting to get on their feet again and then the floods have come."
The Salvation Army, meanwhile, say they've served at least 3400 meals to evacuees and emergency workers over the past week.
The state government on Wednesday also said it would waive the waste levy fee until at least June 30 for flood-affected residents disposing of waste.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro will co-ordinate NSW's clean-up.
Australian Associated Press
