Limited communications access is making life a bit difficult.

However, NSW Premier Mike Baird has declared  Maitland and Dungog have been declared natural disaster zones.

If you'd like to contribute a photo please email janine.graham@fairfaxmedia.com.au - don't forget to add in where and when you captured the image.

South Cessnock residents braced themselves for the worst on Tuesday morning, as the Oliver Street drain once again overflowed and flooded nearby properties.

It was like deja vu for Oliver Street resident Garry Jack, who experienced the floods of 1990 and 2007.

"I had a terrible feeling during the night, and by early Tuesday morning I knew it was happening again," Mr. Jack said.

"We put a lot of stuff up high, but not everything, and it (the water) even knocked a cupboard over.

"But we won't let it get us down."

Mr. Jack said the drainage in the area is poor and needs to be fixed properly.

On the corner of Edgeworth and Oliver streets, Sue Blatchley said she had about 30 minutes to pack up and get out on Tuesday morning.

"I got home from work at 10.30, raced around the house, got the dog and enough clothes to last a few days," she said.

"I was in shock. Everything's destroyed."

Ms. Blatchley said she has lived in the rental property since 2008, the year after the last flood.

"It (the drain) was always going to be fixed, but the council never does anything," she said.

As reported in February, South Cessnock has been listed as the next stage of council’s floodplain management program. Council officers will be pursuing government assistance grant funding to carry out works, and hope to present a public exhibition or workshop during 2015.

The flood waters impacted several Vincent Street businesses, and many were still without power on Wednesday.

- Krystal Sellars

Mother Nature unleashed her fury across the Hunter Valley this week, with wind and storm battering the area for hours on end.

More than 84mm of rain was recorded in Cessnock in the 24 hours up to 9am on Tuesday, April 21, along with wind gusts of more than 60km/hour.

More 130,000 houses and businesses in the Hunter were without power, with Ausgrid receiving 8,000 hazard reports to their emergency lines.

Some houses across Cessnock and the Hunter have had power restored, however, rain and strong winds have brought trees onto power lines meaning some residences may be without power for the next few days.

Roads and bridges have been closed in the area due to flooding, including Cessnock Road, Weston near Peace Park; Frame Drive, Abermain; Richmond Vale Road, Richmond Vale; Old North Road, Rothbury; Lomas Lane, Nulkaba; Wilderness Road, North Rothbury, Tuckers lane, Rothbury; Gingers Lane, Weston; Main Road, Cliftleigh across Testers Hollow and Bob Wells Bridge, Weston.

State Emergency Services are urging people to exercise caution, particularly around power lines, creeks and storm drains.

- Sage Swinton

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2pm UPDATE: Newcastle/Hunter road closures

Industrial Drive - closed northbound in Tighes Hill

Roads also remain closed in many other suburbs throughout Newcastle, Singleton, Port Stephens and Maitland areas.