Power was cut to almost 86,000 homes and businesses while the SES received 1514 call-outs by 4pm yesterday as cyclonic-strength winds wreaked havoc in the Illawarra and South Coast.An Integral Energy spokeswoman said 25,000 customers were likely to remain without electricity overnight.The Shoalhaven was worst hit, with more than 750 calls for assistance and Integral Energy working to connect Shoalhaven and Ulladulla hospitals to emergency generators.
See all the photos here Shoalhaven residents were asked to avoid flushing their toilets after nine of the region's 12 sewerage systems lost power.In Wollongong City, the second hardest hit with 446 calls between Austinmer and Dapto, the Illawarra Carlton League grand final clash was called off after winds damaged the northern grandstand at WIN Stadium.The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning at 5.30pm on Saturday, when destructive winds averaging 70km/h, with peak gusts around 130 km/h, were forecast.SES spokesman Steve Delaney said crews had already received 60 calls for storm damage as a result of heavy rains on Saturday, when the second emergency hit.Calls for assistance began at 3am when gusts of up to 120km/h ripped through the region.A wind gust of 126 km/h was recorded at Bellambi at 8.45am.Flooding, combined with the winds, resulted in a small forest of trees being uprooted and blown on to roadways and homes and across powerlines.WIN Stadium was rendered a danger zone after winds blew in a section of the northern grandstand, sent dugouts crashing over a fence and damaged construction fencing and scaffolding around the demolition zone.WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre's manager of operations, Lenny Fairclough, said discussions with league administrators resulted in the game between Western Suburbs and Thirroul being postponed until next Sunday."We've spent the last few hours securing the site as best we can but it's still regarded as dangerous," Mr Fairclough said at 10.30am."Notwithstanding the damage, the rugby league would have been called off anyway due to the high winds."On the ocean, NSW Maritime asked the region's 1000 boat owners to check their moorings after several vessels broke free in wind gusts of up to 50 knots.In one instance at Batemans Bay, an 8m yacht broke its anchor line with a sole occupant on board.The man sent out a "mayday" call about 4.30am, before he was knocked unconsciousness.He was located by NSW Water Police about 6am and returned to shore where he was treated for mild hypothermia.The Integral Energy spokeswoman said it would take up to 48 hours before power was restored in the worst affected areas in the Shoalhaven.
