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SUPERSTORM has been one of the names given to the intense east coast low that hit Newcastle and Lake Macquarie last week.
The region was drenched, with Newcastle recording 173 millimetres of rain for the three days and Lake Macquarie between 240 and 276 millimetres.
Wind gusts of up to 135km/h were recorded at Nobbys Head and Norah Head.
The lake peaked at 1.014 metres and caused minor flooding.
Beaches were closed as the sea swelled to 13 metres, and shipping movements were cancelled until Thursday lunchtime.
Weather
This wild weather was comparable to the Pasha Bulker storm of June 2007 with its heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and large ocean swell.
However, meteorologists have described it as "remarkable" due to its duration.
Weatherzone senior meteorologist Robe Sharpe said most east coast lows lasted one or two days but this storm had powered on for three days due to a cold inland upper air.
"It was a once-in-a-generation system for the coastline from the Hunter to Illawarra," he said.
Lake Macquarie council
The council has about 220 outdoor staff helping with clean-up and storm recovery efforts that will take weeks.
The clean-up and recovery includes a free kerbside green waste collection; free green waste drop-off service; discounted rate for storm-affected general waste and free mulch.
The free kerbside green waste collection service started on Monday.
Eleven crews started at Wyee, Sunshine, Coal Point, Wangi Wangi, Seahampton, Speers Point, Warners Bay, Dudley, Floraville, Caves Beach and Catherine Hill Bay.
They will then head to neighbouring suburbs.
There is also a free green waste drop-off service at the council's Teralba Worm Farm, Griffin Road, until Sunday, May 10.
Storm-affected general waste can be dropped off at Awaba Waste Management Facility at a discounted rate until Tuesday, May 19.
The council is offering free mulch to help residents rejuvenate their gardens, until Tuesday, May 19.
Residents can collect the mulch by trailer or ute from the Awaba Waste Management Facility.
Newcastle council
The clean-up of rubbish across Newcastle is expected to take weeks, with the council warning bulk waste pick-ups are already booked out for the next month. In the meantime, Newcastle residents can drop off green waste and bulk waste for free at Summerhill Waste Management Centre until Sunday, May 10.
Council crews have been conducting urgent tree work in several areas, where trees remain unstable after last week's gale-force winds.
Newcastle baths is still closed as the pool is full of sand to the point that in some places there is only 15 centimetres of water.
Merewether Baths is also closed indefinitely.
Power
Since the storms began Ausgrid has recorded more than 9000 reports of live wires down, and more than 250,000 calls to its contact centres. About 225,000 homes in the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney lost power - 135,000 homes were affected in the Hunter.
As The Star went to print on Monday, 20,000 homes in the Hunter and 7500 on the Central Coast were still without power.
Water
Many of the region's pumping stations, reservoirs and waste water treatment plants were without power for days and Hunter Water was unable to pump water to many suburbs in its network.
Many Newcastle and Lake Macquarie suburbs were without water for several days.
SES
The SES had received 5300 jobs for assistance in the Hunter by Friday lunchtime, with 3400 of those still outstanding.
The number of jobs is still growing every day.
On Monday morning the Newcastle local government area had 1651 jobs logged, with 1012 completed.
The Lake Macquarie local government area had about 2000 jobs logged, with about 1300 completed.
Fourteen crews from outside the Hunter region have been called in to help.
SES volunteers are expected to continue to work until at least Friday, removing trees and tarping houses.
Fire and Rescue NSW
Fire and Rescue NSW received more than 3000 triple zero calls on Tuesday night.
It was the busiest time for calls the service has had in its history.
In Newcastle and Lake Macquarie at the storm's height, more than 500 calls were received.
Insurance
By Friday close to 30,000 insurance claims had been lodged by people affected by the storms across NSW with the estimated loss of $201 million.
To date NRMA Insurance has received 3000 claims in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas.
The Insurance Council of Australia has declared a catastrophe for storm-affected parts of NSW, including Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
Claims arising from the storm will be given priority treatment to reduce the stress on affected insurance customers.
