Broke resident Evelyn Hardy says she has seen many floods come and go during the past 30 years in her Hunter Valley town.
But she said none of them had been like the the flood that has devastated the small tight-knit community in the past week.
"I had about 15 centimetres or so through my house," she said.
"We did manage to raise a lot of furniture up but it's the damp and mould that's now ruining everything."
She said her sheds had "all gone".
"It's just an absolute mess."
Ms Hardy said it would take more than a one in 50 year flood, like the one that just went through, for her to leave.
Worst flood in 70 years at Bulga
Further up the Wollombi Brook at Bulga, scars of the worst flooding in 70 years can be seen at every turn.
Sodden furniture is packed as neatly as possible out the front of houses to be picked up and disposed of.
The road network is a mess. Some have been entirely washed away.
A temporary walkway is being built across Inlet Road, which was has been reduced to a hole in the ground so people such as Kim Schofield can get to her home.
"The road collapsed so we've got no road to our property," Ms Schofield said.
The couple were relying on a flying fox set-up to get food delivered to them before a temporary bridge was built.
The force of the water has totally changed the landscape of her property.
"It never used to be like that. It's just a mess."
Ms Schofield said she would not be leaving.
"It's a beautiful spot to live," she said.
"Hopefully we can get a bridge in here and it'll be safe again."
Horses up to their necks
Water rose to 1.4 metres in a house at Kurrinda Stud in Milbrodale, just south of Bulga.
Stud workers moved five horses to higher ground.
Another two were lucky to survive after being caught up to their necks in water.
Stud employee Sean Driver said the water rose terrifyingly quickly.
"I drove out of the stud about five o' clock Tuesday afternoon and I drive in the driveway and learned when I got home the water had risen close to three or four metres in 50 minutes," he said.
"It came out of nowhere."
He said there could have been an earlier warning from authorities.
"There needs to be better measures in place because it's just not good enough, you know 45 minutes from nothing, then through your house," he said.
"We need to be warned and the message went out to evacuate after the roads had closed, so what are you supposed to do."
