Three people have died and others are missing as a large section of NSW continues to be hammered by heavy rain.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) said on Thursday afternoon that almost 600 flood rescues in recent days have been responded to, and more than 4,600 calls for assistance have been recorded.
There were 149 active warnings in place, 37 of which were at emergency level. More than 48,000 people remain isolated due to floodwaters, it said.
NSW SES assistant commissioner Dean Storey said flood rescues teams, including 500 rescue boats and nine helicopters, were active between the Hunter and Coffs Harbour, with more assistance on the way.
The SES said major flooding was occurring on the Manning, Paterson, Hastings, Williams, Nambucca and Macleay Rivers.
Renewed river rises were likely into the weekend as forecast rainfall totals exceed 150 to 200mm in a 24-hour period.
Death toll rises after discovery of body on Thursday afternoon
On Thursday evening, police said they had recovered the body of a 60-year-old woman that afternoon near Brooklana, west of Coffs Harbour.
Earlier that afternoon, police had confirmed they had recovered the body of a man aged in his 30s in Rosewood, just west of Port Macquarie.
It is believed the man became stuck while driving in floodwater in the area on Wednesday night.
It came after a 63-year-old man's body was found on Wednesday on a verandah of a flooded home at Moto, about an hour's drive south of Port Macquarie.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed their condolences for the families and communities of those who had died.
"All Australians are thinking of those on the NSW Mid Coast experiencing very difficult and dangerous conditions," Albanese said in a statement on Thursday evening.
"My thoughts are with the loved ones of those that have lost their lives in this terrible ongoing incident."
Flooding at Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast. Source: AAP / Lindsay Moller
Fears for man who remains missing
Authorities have also confirmed that at least one other person is missing in floodwaters.
A 49-year-old man at Nymboida in the NSW northern rivers region is believed to have walked into floodwaters and remains missing.
Minns said authorities hold "grave fears" for the missing.
'Bracing for more bad news', NSW premier says
NSW Premier Chris Minns told reporters on Thursday that: "The grim reality is people on the mid-north coast will have to brace for more bad news."
"It's affected tens of thousands of houses and, as a result, we are bracing for more bad news.
Is financial support available?
Minns has confirmed financial support and reconstruction would take place "as soon as floodwaters recede".
But the state government's immediate focus is on rescuing people from floodwaters.
"The process that we would follow in these circumstances is to wait for the immediate danger to pass," he said.
"We want these communities to get back on their feet as soon as possible."
Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain told the media on Thursday the federal government's disaster recovery allowance would assist affected residents.
"Initially at four Local Government Areas, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Dungog and the Mid Coast Council area and that is to assist people who have been impacted with up to 13 weeks allowance in lieu of them being able to undertake their usual course of employment," she said.
McBain said she was working with the NSW government on when payments would be made available.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
