Bamboo fence saves family, troops roll into flood zone

More than 300 properties have been destroyed by "catastrophic" flooding, as 70 Defence personnel prepare to join the tentative recovery efforts.

An estimated 10,000 properties were hit by floods in the Hunter and mid-north coast regions of NSW after a month's worth of rain fell in a matter of days.

About 12,000 residents across multiple towns were still stranded as of early Monday, and crews have carried out more than 770 rescues amid the flood crisis that has led to five deaths.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 70 Australian Defence Force personnel will be dispatched from Tuesday to engulfed areas to aid recovery and clean-up efforts.

"The presence of ADF personnel on the ground brings enormous confidence to communities that are really doing it tough," he told reporters on Monday.

"It's a sign of how seriously we, as a nation, are taking what is a catastrophic event."

Another 100 people, mostly veterans, from the non-government group Disaster Relief Australia are also set to bolster work on the ground.

From Monday afternoon, those who have lost income will be able to apply via myGov for support equivalent to JobSeeker.

Primary producers are also eligible for freight subsidies to help transport livestock and fodder.

"I said during the election period once or twice, no one left behind," Mr Albanese emphasised.

"This is what it looks like: Australians looking after each other, particularly the most vulnerable, at what is a really difficult period."

Despite floodwaters receding, rescuers still face challenging conditions.

In one case, they had to paddle two hours to reach two people and their working dogs on a remote farm near Kempsey.

The crew ripped down a bamboo fence and crafted a makeshift raft to tow the family to safety, with the spotlight from a drone guiding them as night fell, Fire and Rescue NSW said.

The people and dogs had been stranded for three days.

Heavy-lifting drones have been used to drop hay from the air to isolated farms and conduct aerial welfare checks at properties.

Using bulk water carriers, firefighters have also been moving 250,000 litres an hour from Kempsey's town centre back into the Macleay River.

Insurers have received more than 3500 claims so far, 80 per cent of which are personal property claims.

Some 60 schools will remain closed on Monday across the impacted regions, as well as 173 early childhood education and care services and seven TAFE NSW campuses.

To the south at Port Macquarie, Mayor Adam Roberts said there was "quiet and cautious optimism" as rain cleared and waters receded, although it was hard to tell how many homes and businesses had been impacted.

"We will rebuild as quickly as possible and there is a sense of pride that we do come together in times of need as a community," he told AAP.

Flood-affected residents are being asked to be patient and await advice from the SES before returning to their properties, with 3000 assessments conducted showing more than 300 homes have been deemed uninhabitable.

The NSW government will open recovery centres in flood-impacted areas from Tuesday, offering a range of support services to affected residents.

Meanwhile, communities could face a new weather threat in the coming days.

A cold front with strong winds of 60 to 80km/h due on Monday and Tuesday could hamper recovery efforts, cause damage and bring down trees, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.