Missing man found alive but fifth person dies in NSW flooding zone

A man who went missing in the NSW floods has been found in a rare bit of good news from the disaster that has now claimed the lives of five people and left 50,000 cut off across the state.

A man who went missing in the NSW floods has been found in a rare bit of good news from the disaster that has now claimed the lives of five people and left 50,000 cut off across the state even as floodwaters begin to recede.

Police confirmed that a 49-year-old man who went missing on Wednesday night has been found safely.

The alarm was raised when the man failed to return home while walking near a flooded road at Nymboida, about 40km south of Grafton.

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Emergency services searched for the man on Wednesday night, and again today but were unable to find him.

However, police announced this evening that they were told he had been found by members of the community at a property in Kangaroo Creek, 12 kilometres from where he had last been seen.

Police confirmed the man was OK and "in good spirits."

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However, police also said tonight that a fifth person has been found dead in the flood zone.

The man in his 80s was unable to be contacted following a reported shed fire on Wednesday at a property at Cooplacurripa, 50 kilometres north west of Taree.

Emergency services were unable to access the property by road, or by air due to the floods. When they were able to access the property today, they found the man's body in a burnt-out vehicle inside the shed.

Forensic police will examine the site, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Meanwhile, the family of one of the other flood victims have disputed police claims around her death.

Pauline Fitzsimons, 58, was swept to her death at Dorrigo, west of Coffs Harbour, on Wednesday night after driving through floodwaters. 

The news of the tragedy was confirmed last night by police, who said she had been travelling in convoy with a police officer when he decided to turn around. 

"The woman in her 4WD decided to continue, he checked the water levels for her, and she made a decision to continue," NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddel said. 

"The water levels were only ankle deep.

"He decided to go back, he gave her his phone number and told her to continue with caution."

Thirty minutes later, she made a desperate call for help. 

Her body was found hours later. 

Today, her family issued a statement, criticising the police response. 

"He gave his mobile number to her, we assume, for her to call should she be in danger.

"She contacted him 20 minutes later in a hysterical state, informing him she was drowning.

"The idea that our mother was a reckless driver is a terrible lie."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was in the disaster zone today, was asked about the ordeal.

"I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on an individual circumstance, except to say this: my heart goes out to the family and loved ones of this woman."

Massive emergency response

Four people have died in the floods, and police are still searching for one person who remains missing.

The NSW SES said that there are still 160 active warnings, 39 of which are at emergency level.

More than 50,000 people are still isolated.

Emergency services have carried out 736 flood rescues.

Taree locals begin cleanup

Water levels began to ease on the Manning River earlier today, allowing thousands of Taree residents to return home.

Today they began the enormous task of cleaning up the damage of hundreds of inundated homes.

The Kempsey CBD, north of Port Macquarie, remains inundated. 

More than 1600 insurance claims have been filed from the floods in the last few days, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).

Rain has largely cleared over the Mid-North coast.

Drier weather has set in, and is likely to remain over the weekend.

Sydney received massive rainfall overnight, with the weather system moving down over the NSW South Coast.

Warragamba Dam was at 97 per cent capacity today.

Strong winds are likely to arrive on the NSW Coast this weekend.

Aid for those affected by floods

The NSW government and federal government will provide hardship grants to those affected by the floods, Minns said.

"I want to announce with the Prime Minister that assistance will begin to flow soon, and today I can announce that in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government, that personal hardship assistance grants of $180 per individual or $900 per family will be available as soon as possible," he said.

"It's not today, but that funding is on the way for communities that are subject to an evacuation order.

"Again, jointly funded by the state and Commonwealth Government, a $1 million community recovery grant for local councils, $1 million for each local council affected by emergency orders.

"That will flow soon."

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