Coles forced into extreme measure after storm smashes stores
The severe storms that lashed Australia’s east coast over the weekend caused widespread destruction and left many parts unrecognisable.
Sydney experienced its heaviest rainfall in 20 years and by 5pm on Sunday, 500mm had fallen over six days on the Mid North Coast, with flooding and fallen trees commonplace across NSW.
In Newcastle, a Coles store was forced to take the drastic action of clearing its meat aisle after a power outage from the extreme conditions led to staff evacuating the store.
Remarkable images shared to social media show shelves inside the Waratah store completely bare – a sight more recently associated with supermarkets within the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.
A Coles spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the store was one of several that were impacted by the storms with a handful yet to re-open.
Several shoppers in the Newcastle area questioned why the food was disposed of by the supermarket giant and suggested the meat should have been offered to customers at a discount rate.
One woman on Facebook called the move “idiotic” and claimed even staff were upset with how much food was wasted.
However other users pointed out the supermarket is under strict health and safety legislation where certain items could not be sold if not kept under the correct temperature.
The Coles spokesperson confirmed in some extreme instances the stock must be removed and apologised for any inconvenience caused to shoppers.
“Unfortunately, in supermarkets where power outages occurred there will be some stock loss, and our team members are working hard to dispose of these products so we can replenish the fridges and freezers.”
Late on Sunday Ausgrid confirmed more than 110,000 customers in Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast were without power.
Crews worked throughout the night to restore power which was slowly restored to some suburbs throughout Monday morning.
"The strong rains and wind have caused more than 3000 hazards to the electricity network such as fallen power poles, large trees across roads, damaged wires and extensive flash flooding," Ausgrid said in a statement.
Power is out to more than 110,000 customers in Sydney, Newcastle & Central Coast. We’ve restored power where we can, but the storm has continued to move and damage more of our network.
Crews are working through the night to make these dangerous hazards safe. #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/vxWSLXK7jw— Ausgrid (@Ausgrid) February 9, 2020
Storm damage another catastrophe
The Insurance Council of Australia has declared another weather-related catastrophe, this time for property losses caused by storms and flooding along the east coast.
It is the sixth catastrophe declared in five months after a summer of raging bushfires and storms.
Insurers are also monitoring the extent of insured damage in Western Australia's Pilbara region, which took a pummelling from Cyclone Damien over the weekend, the ICA said in a statement on Monday.
Since February 5 storms have flooded southeast Queensland, NSW coastal regions and caused damage several hundred kilometres inland, and in the ACT.
By 7am on Monday, insurers had received 10,000 claims estimated to be worth $45 million, the ICA said.
Most of the claims have come from Queensland and coastal NSW for property damage caused by storm runoff, flooding, strong winds and heavy rain.
Insurers are expecting more claims to be lodged over the coming days as power and telecommunications are restored.
The weather deluge is not yet over with forecasters warning heavy rain and damaging winds will again lash NSW, particularly on the south coast, on Monday.
With AAP
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