BY IAN CROUCH
Volunteers from the Newcastle SES have carried out two flood rescues after a fierce electrical storm hit the region last night.
Homes and businesses at Elermore Vale, Wallsend, Maryland and Sandgate lost power shortly after the storm moved through at about 9.00pm.
Ausgrid says 19 customers in Gunsynd Crescent at Maryland and 13 on Maitland Road at Sandgate are still without power and are not expected back on the grid until later this morning or early this afternoon.
The SES responded to 30 calls for assistance mainly for roof damage and trees down.
The SES says the occupants of two vehicles had to be rescued after getting caught in flash flooding, with water up the doors.
In one instance Newcastle Fire Command says a crew from Carrington helped a woman to safety after she became trapped in her car on Industrial Drive at Tourle Street in Mayfield West at about 9.30pm
Tocal recorded the highest rainfall during the storm with 52 millimetres, while Waratah Reservoir recorded 43 and 42 millimetres fell at the Belmore Bridge.
