People in Victoria, South Australia and NSW are being urged to prepare for storms, with rainfall totals of up to 200mm and flooding forecast for some areas.

Hundreds of people called for help in Victoria and South Australia at the weekend after heavy rain and storms lashed the states.

Swathes of Victoria have been put on notice to expect rainfall totals as high as 150mm to 200mm as thunderstorms sweep across the state.

Storms were expected to develop in Victoria’s west on Sunday before moving through central, north central and eastern parts of the state into Monday.

Authorities issued a flash flood Watch and Act for East Bendigo in the early hours of Monday, urging people in the area to immediately move indoors and away from floodwater.

Parts of South Australia and southern NSW were also in the firing line of the major weather event.

NSW SES spokesman Brett Koschel said three storm crews and two flood rescue teams had been brought to the state’s south from elsewhere to assist if necessary.

“In the last 24 hours we’ve been making preparations for the forecast weather,” he said on Sunday.

“We’ve had some community members out there preparing their properties and had those requests for sandbags so they’ve been able to prepare their properties as best they can.”

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In South Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology said thunderstorms continued to move to the state’s south and east on Sunday and were forecast to head towards eastern border districts on Monday.

Storms knocked out Coober Pedy Hospital’s power supply but the SES said on Sunday the hospital was functioning normally on backup power.

A flood advice was in place for the Flinders Ranges in South Australia due to isolated heavy rainfalls.

Overnight rainfall on Saturday had already led to flash flooding within the region’s creek systems, causing rapidly moving water to flow across roads.

Authorities said the situation was likely to continue overnight into Monday.

Queensland rebuild could take years

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has warned it could take years for storm and flood-damaged properties in the state’s southeast to be repaired.

Queenslanders are being warned of lengthy delays to repair properties damaged by recent storms and flash flooding.

Premier Steven Miles said on Sunday it could take “years to get everybody’s homes repaired”.

At least 10 homes have been destroyed in southeast Queensland’s recent round of thunderstorms and flash flooding, with another 152 sustaining severe damage and 406 moderate damage.

“It’s true recovering from this disaster particularly when it comes to those severely damaged and destroyed households, that’s going to take years,” Mr Miles told reporters.

“The construction market continues to be challenging in terms of labour and supplies.”

Mr Miles said some of those affected had been placed in emergency accommodation.

“The housing department will continue to support people who need assistance with temporary accommodation while they get their homes repaired,” he said.

Energex said crews continued their marathon restoration effort at the weekend following the recent severe storms, with power safely reconnected to most homes on the Gold Coast and Tamborine Mountain on Sunday night.

Mr Miles said some residents would need their houses to be certified before their power could be reconnected.

He said Operation Energise electricians would be out from Monday to assist those who still had not been able to engage a contractor.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the recovery from recent weather events in far north Queensland and southeast Queensland would take time.

“They are very significant events on a national scale,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“I want to assure everyone recovering from these events that the Albanese government will be standing with you every step of the way.

“It’s not going to be able to be fixed overnight.

“There is very significant damage in both ends of the state, but we’re committed to the task and committed to working with the Miles government to get this job done.”

Senator Watt said applications for two additional forms of financial assistance – a disaster recovery payment and a disaster recovery allowance – would open on Monday.

The one-off recovery payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child will be activated for 27 suburbs across southeast Queensland.

“That’s really intended to help those who’ve suffered some sort of significant damage to their homes or if they’ve suffered a serious injury as a result of the storms,” Senator Watt said.

The recovery allowance is a 13-week payment at the JobSeeker level for those whose access to their workplace has been impacted.

“Some people we know have found it difficult to get to their work because of road damage or debris,” Senator Watt said.

The allowance will be made available people who live or work in the three councils affected – the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim.

Gold Coast City Council has launched Operation Clean Up to help clear storm debris and flood damage including green waste in the most severely impacted areas.

—AAP