Nature's force overturned a two-tonne refrigerator when water inundated Rashid Khan's family-run supermarket at Picton.
But as Malcolm Turnbull discovered during a visit to the NSW town on Tuesday, the 200mm of rain has met its match during the clean-up operation.
"The forces of nature are very powerful, but they are not as powerful as the spirit of this community," the prime minister said.
It was in tough times, when nature flings her worst, that Australians responded with the best, he said.
Mr Turnbull rearranged his election campaign to inspect the flood clean-up and recovery effort alongside NSW Premier Mike Baird and Liberal MP Angus Taylor who represents the Hume electorate.
After a briefing from council officers and emergency workers, Mr Turnbull hit the main street to comfort small business owners and flooded residents and tell them about disaster assistance.
Newsagent Tony Higgs showed Mr Turnbull how high the water came up in his store.
"Everything's gone, the computers, lotteries, magazines, cards," he said.
He estimates his losses could be in the order of $200,000 of stock and is only insured up to $70,000.
At the neighbouring dental clinic, Mr Turnbull met a lady who had retired years ago from the surgery but as soon as she heard about the storm damage, came to lend a helping hand.
Sportspower owner Judy Bjorklund has lost an estimated $120,000 worth of sports gear but has vowed to start over.
Her insurance company told her to dump all the soggy sports clothes and equipment at the tip.
Her shop is now empty.
"Customers came in with their little kids to help throw everything out," she told.
And while holidays have come early for youngsters at St Anthony's primary school, not all pupils are celebrating.
Five-year-old Emily Tague is devastated flood waters have ruined her classroom and artwork.
"I want to go to school," she told AAP.
"I love drawing and counting to 100."
But at least she'll have an interesting show-and-tell when school resumes - her family posed for photos with the prime minister.
