The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is urging people to get ready for the upcoming storm season.
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Minster for Emergency Services David Elliott MP, along with NSW SES Acting Commissioner, Kyle Stewart, launched the start of the official storm season this week.
To demonstrate the impact that storms can have, SES volunteers simulated a fallen tree on a crushed vehicle.
"As the weather heats up over summer, storm frequency increases," Minister Elliott said.
"While parts of the state have been experiencing incredibly dry conditions and fires have occurred recently, we have also experienced severe storms- including damaging winds, hail and snow.
"The NSW SES has responded to more than 5600 storm damage jobs in the last three months alone, and over 34,000 storm related jobs in the last year."
The official storm season runs from October 1 to March 31 each year.
However NSW SES acting commissioner Kyle Stewart said severe weather could happen at any time and that communities should always be prepared.
"NSW SES volunteers and other emergency services are preparing for a busy storm season," Mr Stewart said.
"The Bureau of Meteorology have forecast a typical severe thunderstorm season, which means that we are likely to see storms that could include large hailstones, heavy rain, localised flash flooding and damaging winds.
"Even an average storm season can wreak havoc, like what we saw in the Sydney hailstorms last December".
Mr Steward said dedicated NSW SES volunteers selflessly gave up their own time to protect their communities during floods and storms.
"People can help prevent storm damage around their properties by trimming back overhanging branches, cleaning gutters and downpipes and securing or putting away loose items around the yard or balcony," he said.
"It's also important to avoid parking your cars under trees and powerlines."
The NSW SES has 9500 volunteers who partner with their communities prior to and during emergencies.
