Legal service here to help with NSW flooding disaster

Is your area experiencing flooding?

Recovery Centres open (updated 27/5/25)

The NSW Reconstruction Authority have opened Recovery Centres in key locations starting Tuesday 27 May.

Solicitors from the Disaster Response Legal Service and Mid North Coast Legal Centre will be at the centres in Taree, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Macksville and Maitland.

For details about times and locations of the centres, see Flood recovery updates on the NSW Government website.

Free Legal Help

Do you have questions about insurance, tenancy, financial hardship or other everyday legal problems? We can advise you on your legal rights after a disaster.

The Disaster Response Legal Service provides free legal help to NSW residents affected by this weather event.

If you can't make it to a Recovery Centre, call 1800 801 529 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday to book a free appointment with a specialist disaster lawyer.

To access our factsheets about common legal issues after a disaster, see our Resources and factsheets page.

For community advice and preparedness updates, see Severe weather update on the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) website.

Insurance tips

If it’s safe, take photos and videos of:

• water entering your home or property
• furniture, electronics, and other important contents
• water levels inside and outside
• use your phone’s timestamp (or note the date/time).

Keep a record of:

• what was damaged
• when the flooding started
• any emergency steps you’ve taken.

This evidence can support insurance claims, even if you're not covered for flood, and help with disaster relief or legal support later.