(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell declared a natural disaster on Monday (February 25) after more than 20,000 people on the state's north coast were cut off by flooding.<br/> <br />The small city of Kempsey, on the Macleay River, was spared major damage but farmers upstream were not, with many reporting their properties underwater and livestock cut off.<br/> <br />The mayor of Kempsey welcomed the declaration of a natural disaster saying extra help was badly needed in the area.<br/> <br />Local media said government financial assistance should be available within days.<br/> <br />On Sunday (February 24) morning on the south coast of the state a freak storm hit the town of Kiama, 120km (75 miles) south of Sydney, destroying four homes and damaged 70 more, local media reported.<br/> <br />The storm, described as a mini-tornado of cyclonic force, cut a swathe through the coastal town.
