NSW flood victims are facing the double heartbreak of returning to homes declared unfit for living — and some of which have now been looted.

Two men were arrested and accused of stealing property in separate incidents during the flood clean-up on the state’s Mid-North Coast.

A 20-year-old man was stopped by NSW Police on Pulteney St in Taree about 8.40pm on Sunday.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

Police allege he was picking through property on the street and was in possession of two hunting knives, first aid kits, a defibrillator, several fishing rods and other medical items and tools.

He was charged with having goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen and custody of a knife in a public place.

He was refused bail during a brief court appearance on Monday and will appear before Forster Local Court on June 10.

The second man was arrested during a stop-and-search on Albert St in Taree about 10.40pm on Sunday.

Police allege personal documents, tools, and a knife were located inside his vehicle.

The 29-year-old man was charged with having goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen, custody of a knife in a public place, and stealing.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before Taree Local Court on June 17.

Stealing from families and local businesses wiped out by some of the worst floods on record is unforgivable, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said.

“We have additional police on the ground and if we find anyone taking advantage of this community we’ll throw the book at them,” he said.

“The impact of this weather event has been unimaginable and to think they now have to be concerned about hanging on to whatever property they have left is a disgrace.

“Stealing from people vulnerable during hard times like these is un-Australian.”

NSW Police have increased patrols in flood-affected areas to target theft and property offences.

“We encourage the public to report any suspicious behaviour to police as soon as possible so that we can take action,” Detective Inspector Natalie Antaw said.

“I’d also like to remind people that taking any goods that are not yours, no matter where they are found, is an offence — even if the items have been moved from their original place by floodwaters.”

Number of homes declared unfit for living

The alleged looting comes as the number of completely destroyed homes from inundating floods has doubled to about 800.

But flood-weary communities are now sensing some relief with weather conditions set to ease.

SES spokesman Matt Heap on Tuesday said 794 homes on the NSW Mid-North Coast have been deemed unfit for living.

More than 5000 damage assessments were conducted.

That figure of uninhabitable dwellings is expected to sharply rise throughout the day as more homes are inspected.

At the peak of the flooding, 50,000 people were isolated and delivering critical food supplies is a major priority to areas where roads were and still are cut off.

About 12,000 people isolated in the natural disaster, which has killed five people.

Weather conditions are set to ease from Wednesday but not before damaging winds pass through the region first.

“We do have damaging wind warnings ... that includes the high elevated parts of the Mid=North Coast and northern Hunter,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said on Tuesday.

“We could see showers develop this afternoon with strong and gusty winds but those conditions should ease tonight and then they’ll clear out by Wednesday.”

With all eyes on the rapidly changing weather conditions, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also set to visit the region on Tuesday.

On Monday, he announced 70 Australian Defence Force personnel would be dispatched to help with recovery and mop-up efforts.

Affected locals have been picking up muddied possessions and surveying damage, while drones have been used to drop hay to isolated farms and for aerial welfare checks at properties.

Artist Nadia Zarb owns a gallery in Taree, one of the worst-hit towns, and says she could not have coped without community support.

“We’ve got the best community, we’ve got the support around us and I couldn’t ask for anything more,” she said.

Local Oxley MP Michael Kemp said it was tough seeing “people’s livelihoods on the side of the kerb”.

Insurers have so far received more than 4000 claims.

The crisis has prompted federal-state natural disaster recovery arrangements, including small loans for business, which have been activated for 19 local government areas.

“I can assure everybody on the Mid-North Czxoast that those agencies are working around the clock to get those communities back up on their feet,” Premier Chris Minns said.

But NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said farmers needed more than loans to help recover from the disaster.

“What they need is a helping hand in the form of a grant to enable them to uplift their business,” Saunders said from Taree.

“The feeling is a little bit starting to get angry now as people wonder where the support actually is.”