CEILINGS have collapsed and property badly damaged in many homes and businesses as residents count the cost of a freak thunderstorm that battered Bateau Bay yesterday.
Wyong SES has had 346 calls for assistance since the storm hit the Coast just before noon yesterday when several inches of golf ball-sized hail caused traffic chaos and power outages and further damage to homes of families still reeling after April’s super storm.
“We’ve completed all but 60 of those jobs, and the rest are likely to be finished by late tonight,” Wyong SES spokesman Allan Benson told the Express Advocate at 4pm today.
“There have been 15 out-of-area SES crews helping us, along with NSW Fire & Rescue crews, and the majority of our jobs have been at Bateau Bay.”
There was traffic chaos on the Central Coast Highway at Bateau Bay after a freak hailstorm hit late morning. Picture: Mark Scott
Mr Benson said there had been four flood rescues, including a trio trapped in a car at Hawkesbury Close, Bateau Bay, and three calls to assist residents evacuate their home.
“We’ve seen homes where ceilings have collapsed and walls in need of replacing due to stormwater flows into eaves, as well as already damaged homes where tarp was still in place after the April storms,” he said.
Bateau Bay and Tumbi Umbi had more than 1500 homes and businesses blacked out, but Ausgrid had restored power by this afternoon.
Heavy hail made this backyard in O'Halloran Rd, Tumbi Umbi, resemble a snowfield. Picture: Facebook
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting more severe weather over the next week, with rain forecast until Friday.
Bateau Bay Square shopping centre copped the brunt of the storm yesterday with sections of Kmart and Woolworths waterlogged when ceilings collapsed under the weight of the hailstones. More than 400 shoppers were evacuated about 12.30pm.
Eight other retailers — St George Bank, Helloworld Travel, Peters Meats, Peters Deli, Dick Smith, Telstra shop, Bras n’ Things and Terry White Chemist — suffered water damage and were closed today. But each is expected to reopen tomorrow.
Snow joke: Blake Vickery slides down Ocean Palms Close, Wamberal, on his bodyboard with his friend Travis Lythall. Picture: Peter Clark
Bob and Cathy Crawley’s home in Mermaid Dr, Bateau Bay, was directly in the storm’s path.
Their double carport was totally demolished by the weight of the hail.
“Luckily we weren’t home at the time as our cars would have been destroyed too,” Mrs Crawley said.
“Our neighbours told us the noise when the carport came down was like a bomb going off.
“There was glass everywhere and our power was cut.”
It was deja vu for Family Tree childcare centre owner Ineke Smith, of Wamberal.
As a section of the ceiling of the centre began to give way under the weight of hail, it brought back memories of April’s super storm when a tree came crashing through the roof.
“I thought, ‘oh no, here we go again’,” she said.
Ineke Smith had to evacuate children out the window during the hailstorm at Family Tree Learning Centre, Bateau Bay. Picture: Peter Clark
But Ms Smith and her trained staff were able to lift the 59 children through a side window and onto the safety of a sheltered deck.
“I made sure the deck roofing was safe before we moved the children and we sheltered there until it was safe to go back inside again,” she said.
Ms Smith called 000 for help and the fire brigade arrived within minutes to ensure the children and staff were safe.
Wyong Council-controlled buildings didn’t escape storm damage.
Cynthia Street Community Centre was evacuated and closed due to internal flooding that caused electrical damage.
Play-area shade sails were also damaged due to weight of hail.