Four Albury and Berrigan SES members arrived home yesterday after helping to clear trees and fix roofs in and around Sydney since Tuesday.

Albury SES training officer Trish Taylor said the trip had been challenging.

“It was an eye-opener just to see the level of destruction in suburban areas,” she said.

“One of the first jobs we did on Wednesday was for a family with two children who had been without power for two days.

“They were just so resilient.

“They were surviving in a house with a leaking roof and no power.

“I haven’t seen anything on that scale in my four years with the SES.”

Three vehicles, two storm trailers, a flood boat and 16 volunteers were sent from the Albury, Deniliquin, Berrigan, Mathoura and Wentworth, and all are expected to return by Tuesday.

“It’s what we are trained to do, but the size of some of the trees was a bit of a challenge,” Ms Taylor said.

“The logistics of how to approach those jobs took us a bit longer than normal.

“There were still trees coming down on Thursday and jobs still coming in.”

Residents had thanked the volunteers, with one woman anonymously picking up a food and coffee bill for them.

A convoy of Victorian SES volunteers were also making their way to Sydney last night, including members from Wodonga and Yackandandah.

Wodonga volunteer Megan Vearing said the group of 25 would undertake two days of work before returning home.

“There are 13 trucks going up which will mainly be used for trees that have fallen or been cut down,” she said.

“There is quite a bit of building damage as well.

“The crew will fly home and then a new crew will come up and drive the trucks.”

At least eight people have died as a result of the storms.