Sydney declared disaster zone after gales
Sydney and nearby towns lashed by gales were declared disaster areas today as emergency services cleaned up fallen trees and people began repairing homes.
One man was critically injured when his car was hit by a falling tree in southwest Sydney.
Elsewhere in the city, winds ripped roofs off buildings and a twister slammed a bus shelter into a bus.
By declaring the regions disaster areas, New South Wales state premier Bob Carr freed up government funds to help cover the costs of the clean-up.
