RECOVERING from a natural disaster, like the storm we experienced in January, is quite a journey and is still ongoing.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who went above and beyond to help our community during and after this challenging time.

The storm earlier this month left 20,000 homes across Port Stephens without power.

A number of roads had to be closed due to water over roads, fallen trees and power lines down.

The storm also impacted a number of Council facilities and services.

Our Emergency Response team acted swiftly, working closely with key agencies to assist residents.

Council crews were out during the event, making repairs, cleaning debris and monitoring roads.

Communication between council teams was excellent, ensuring the community were provided with the most up to date information.

One of the main requests from the community following the storm was disposing of green waste.

If you have green waste that you’re unable to take to a free green waste drop-off, book a special green waste collection.

This is a one-off special green waste collection, with one collection available per property.

Use the online booking link on Council’s website, or call 4988 0255.

Recovery time following a weather event varies depending on the extent of the damage.

We’re committed to working diligently to restore our community as quickly as possible.

We appreciate your patience and understanding over the past few weeks as we got Council services back up and running.

I’m so grateful for the way we’ve all come together during this difficult time.

For those needing further assistance, a list of local community services and support are available on Council’s website.

To find out more about Council’s recovery after emergencies visit www.pscouncil.info/recovery-after-emergency.

By Leah ANDERSON, Mayor, Port Stephens Council