NSW storms: Divers to search for two women

Trees and power lines down near Raymond Terrace in the north of NSW. Photo / AAP

SES boat crews and police divers are on their way to the NSW Hunter region to search for two women feared drowned after their small car was swept into an overflowing creek.

The SES holds grave concerns for the pair, NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Steven Pearce told Fairfax.

Witnesses watched in horror as the silver hatchback the women were driving was swept from Cessnock Road in Maitland into Wallis Creek, along with another car, about 9am.

Three people from the second car have been rescued and are being treated for hypothermia, but the two people believed to be in the hatchback have not been found.

NSW Police say the hatchback has been swept away and is submerged.

The procession of cars had been following four-wheel drives through the area.

The hatchback had tried to go around a red Falcon, which stalled in front of them while travelling across the flooded part of the road.

There is a huge contingency of emergency workers on the scene, police said.

Three elderly people died because of flood waters on Tuesday in Dungog.

A woman and two men reportedly died in their homes as water surged through the small town after more than 300mm of rain fell in 24 hours.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said areas such as Dungog and Maitland, and parts of the Central Coast, would be declared natural disaster zones.

-AAP