Strong winds and heavy rain between February 8 to 10 caused power cuts, road closures and the cancellation of train services on the Peninsula.
A total of 195.5mm of rain was recorded at Umina in the 48 hours to 4pm on Sunday, February 9, with winds speeds estimated at up to 70km/h.
Trains from Gosford and Hornsby were cancelled and rail commuters from Woy Woy were being transported by buses while infrastructure damage was repaired.
Brickwharf Rd at Woy Woy was closed and several roads in Umina were flooded. Grandview Cres in Hardys Bay was blocked when a tree fell over the road,
Residents in many areas of Umina, Ettalong, Pearl Beach and Patonga were without power for several days.
A statement issued by Ausgrid said it was one of the worst storms to hit the network in the past 20 years, with damage including fallen and snapped power lines.
Power was not expected to be restored in some areas until the end of the last weekend.
Gosford State Emergency Service deputy commander Mr Werner Klumpp said the flooding was exacerbated on the Peninsula by high tides.
“The aggravating fact is that with the high tides we’ve been having in some areas of the Peninsula and around Woy Woy, the drains draining into Brisbane Water actually don’t work because the level of the Brisbane Water is higher than the drain,” he said.
“It’s tidal, so when the tide goes out the water can drain away.”
Community facilities which opened for residents to shower or get access to power included Peninsula Leisure Centre, Umina Surf Club, Wagstaffe Hall and Ocean Beach Surf Club.
All beaches were closed last week and warnings issue to avoid waterways because of risk of pollution due to stormwater run-off after extended heavy rainfall.
SOURCE:
Interview (Sue Murray) 12 Feb 2020
Werner Klumpp, Gosford SES
Media releases, 11 Feb 2020
Lisa Matthews, Central Coast Council
Mike Allsop, WTKCA