SYDNEY - Extra State Emergency Services (SES) crews are being sent in to help the clean-up effort after hailstorms left a path of destruction across parts of northern NSW.
The SES is racing to deal with about 400 calls for help before more storms which are predicted to
hit the area this afternoon.
An extra 15 crews started arriving in the Lismore area last night, with the remainder expected this morning.
Hailstones, described as being the size of tennis balls, smashed homes and cars during two storms yesterday.
Lismore was hardest hit when the first storm swept through about 2pm (AEST), followed by another wave of hailstones an hour later.
An SES spokesman said crews were dealing with hail damage to roofs and water damage.
He said it was too early to estimate the cost of the storms, but there had been a lot of damage.
"We need to make sure we get waterproof barriers up if predicted storms come through this afternoon," he said.
"There's been a lot of damage to roofs, windows and cars."
A school at Lismore asked for SES help after the storms smashed more than 100 of its windows. School holidays meant no students were put at risk by the breakages.
Churches, police stations and hospitals are also on the list of public buildings damaged by the storms.
A 70-year-old man, who fell off his roof during the first storm and was taken to hospital in a stable condition, was the only person reported to be injured, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said.
Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile arrived at Lismore yesterday and a spokesman said he had already seen significant damage to crops outside the city.
Mr Vaile is likely to tour the damaged city this morning.
- AAP
