Walking through the streets of Thirroul on Sunday morning the suburb just looked soggy, a far cry different from the metres of water covering various roads and swallowing gardens the day before.
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Hewitt's Creek, which runs from the escarpment to the sea, was raging about two metres above average with some residents looking out their window to discover sheds and garages underwater while personal items were being washed down the street.
A resident from Lachlan Street Karen (who wished not to give her surname) said she had been watching television and didn't realise how bad the storm was until she heard her neighbours yelling to move parked cars to another street.
Upon moving to Thirroul three years ago she said she was warned of potential flooding, but this was the first time experiencing it with her garage and studio inundated.
"I don't blame anyone, it's just nature," she told the Mercury.
Another resident said she was devastated at watching her landscaped garden turn to mud and her sheds ruined as Hewitt's Creek left its course to veer through and around her home, sending some of her belongings into a neighbours yard.
She said she was "fed up" as it was the sixth time flooding had occurred at her home in 22 years, and felt the only solution would be to sell up and move.
Rainfall data collected by the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL) shows Russell Vale copped 71.5mm of rain in the 24 hours to 8am Sunday, and 143.5 mm since 8am Wednesday.
Lawrie Meades owns Waterlu Clothing on the corner of Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Railway Parade and was thankful for two people sheltering from the downpour who helped them lift all of their retail stock to higher ground.
"With the cars driving by it made waves and it was hitting out front door, and kind of coming through there," she said of the flash flooding.
The store owner grabbed as many absorbent things as she could from her Bulli home (towels and sheets) to use as water barricades at the shop, which luckily resulted in minimal damage.
Thirroul's Phillip Street turned into a waterfall, with one resident saying it was "worse than I've ever seen it", as gutters overflowed in the heavy rainstorm that hit the area.
According to emergency service workers, Austinmer fire crews helped remove one car from water near the bottom of Bulli Pass just before 11am.
The downpour closed part of the road, with police and fire crews helping to keep other traffic away from the water.
An Austinmer resident was taken to Wollongong Hospital after a tree fell on part of her home during the storm around midday.
The 42-year-old woman suffered head injuries as well a suspected broken arm and leg injuries when a a landslip occurred at the back of her Asquith Street home.
On Lawrence Hargrave Drive, a tree blocked the north-bound lane around 11.30am near Scarborough Public School, with fire crews assisting to remove it.
Between 9am Saturday and 8am Sunday, 63 requests for help were made to the State Emergency Service in the Illawarra - 21 of those from the Thirroul area.
Across the region, the SES has advised people to stay away from creeks and storm drains during heavy rain events.
The bureau has warned that the ground is wetter than usual, due to the months of heavy rain, which means flash flooding can't be ruled out during slow moving thunderstorms.
An MHL water level stationed at Hewitt's Creek showed water levels increased by about 2 metres higher than normal at its peak on Saturday.
It seems rainfall data at the Bureau of Meteorology may be incorrect, with readings at Bellambi showing just 0.2 mm of rain across Saturday.
The Bureau is predicting rain for the rest of the week though in far less quantities seen in recent days - at this stage the heaviest rainfall is expected on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with between 8 mm and 20 mm predicted.
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Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
Desiree Savage
At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au
At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au
