'We have been through hell': Desperate Mullumbimby residents plead for help

A resident of the NSW Northern Rivers town of Mullumbimby said they have "been through hell" as floods cut off food, medicine and communication in the area.

ADF and emergency crews have been stretched thin as the flood crisis continues but Russ Berry said there is no support for communities like his.

"We are trying to respond to a national disaster with volunteers only," Russ told Today.

READ MORE: Floods causing major supply issues at supermarkets

"The dramas we are facing, we are running with no qualified support. We have people that need welfare checks in every single house in the town and beyond.

"We have people that need fresh drinking water, the town's drinking water has been contaminated. We have no access to food or fuel.

"We have civilians, hairdressers, gym owners, people that work in town wading through water to deliver insulin, heart medication - We need people in town with leadership."

READ MORE: Storm victim targeted by looters while she was home

Russ said his town is resilient but he can't say they are coping with the crisis.

"We have been through hell," he said.

While some have described Mullumbimby as "a warzone", Defence Minister Peter Dutton said there is a broad range of effort underway from the ADF to get help to those communities.

"We will respond with all the might of the Australian Defence Force," Mr Dutton told Today.

"There is quite a broad range of effort that's underway from the ADF specialists, but, they are stretched across a long distance at the moment."

Watch the full interview with Russ Berry above

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