The federal government has added 16 more flood-affected local council areas to the list of regions eligible to receive aid, bringing the total number of local council areas covered to 63, including 36 which survived the bushfires.
Tens of thousands of people across NSW have been given the all-clear to return to their flood-ravaged homes to start mopping up and rebuilding.
However more than 8000 residents were still cast from their homes on Friday evening as evacuation orders remained in place in certain areas.
Flooding has eased in many parts of the state but orders remain around Moree and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley in northwest Sydney.
Those returning to their flood-damaged homes should first check for damage to the roof and walls and ensure the power and gas are off, the SES said.
Red Cross NSW Director Poppy Brown said the coming weeks will be tough for residents, particularly for those who survived the bushfires at the start of 2020.
"Our volunteers have heard stories about the distress about leaving homes, livestock and even a change of clothes behind.
"Many of these communities have already endured years of concurrent disasters, from drought, bushfires, COVID-19 and now floods. The impact of this latest disaster is expected to be significant."
Residents should wear protective gear while cleaning up, have a supply of fresh water and be wary of contaminated floodwaters.
The SES has also started assessing the damage in affected areas, with at least 75 properties so far declared potentially uninhabitable.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Justin Robinson said the situation across the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley should ease by Monday and river levels in Moree were quickly dropping.
But Mr Robinson warned that although the sun was out, people should still avoid flooded rivers and be careful this weekend.
"Having high rivers, a sunny weekend, children playing ... is a pretty dangerous combination," he said.
The SES said there had been 12,500 requests for help since last week and 1000 flood rescues.
About 500 SES volunteers remain in the field, supported by hundreds of soldiers who have made their way down from Queensland to help with the clean up.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the floods had washed away a "way of life" for many regional businesses, who face another round of rebuilding after last summer's bushfires.
The federal and NSW government will each pay 50 per cent of flood recovery costs.
Grants of up to $75,000 will be available to affected primary producers while small businesses can access up to $50,000.
Meanwhile the search for an elderly woman continues after police pulled her car from the swollen Barrington River on Thursday.
