The NSW State Emergency Services (SES) Commissioner has defended the work of volunteers in the wake of the flood inquiry report, as she calls for more funding.
Carlene York's plea comes as data shows the organisation had its biggest year on record.
More than 64,000 requests for assistance were received between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 — an increase from 42,000 in the previous financial year.
Flood rescues also increased along with road crash rescues and storm assistance.
Commissioner York said volunteers had always helped the community at their time of need, despite "disappointing" budget cuts over the years.
"We have been really trying to do a lot with our training and managing the money and the resources that we have," she said.
"But obviously, these recent events the continuity of the events across New South Wales show that it is time that the SES got future funding."
In June, the state government announced that $132 million would go towards "future-proofing" the agency.
Ms York said it was a welcome first step, and while the "enhancement" showed "appreciation", it needed more
"I look at what the Rural Fire Service got after the recent bushfires in 2019 2020. I look at the need for more trainers for more run flood rescue operators for better facilities."
She also said the SES would be compiling business cases and costings and putting a dollar figure to government.
A spokesperson for the Minister for Emergency Services Steph Cooke said the SES had received it's single largest investment in the organisations history.
"That funding was part of a record $4.2 billion budget investment in emergency services," they said.
"The NSW government is committed to ensuring all emergency services organisations have the funding and resources they need to protect communities."
Last week's report into the state's devastating floods found the volunteer body was "unprepared" to respond to large scale disasters, failing to warn and protect communities.
"I don't agree that the word failure should be used," Commissioner York said.
"It's the result of poor planning decisions, cuts to our budget, significant weather events increasing over that time, building of infrastructure.
"There's many, many government departments and many decisions that are made by all levels of government in relation to how we prepare and prevent for natural disasters."
Woodburn SES Commander Ashley Slapp was stranded with hundreds of people and their animals in a temporary evacuation centre during the Northern Rivers flooding event.
He's also disappointed at the negativity in the report, saying that members of his team "worked around the clock" — like many other volunteers across the state.
"No one stopped. No one went home. No one said I've had enough," he said.
"It boggles my mind all the time when I think of why it's been said that we didn't do all we could.
"They're [the members] obviously disheartened … for someone to not only not recognise the amount of work that you did, the effort you put in, the sacrifice you made, the risk you took but to be criticised on that, it's not fair."
Mr Slapp hopes people won't be put off joining as the state potentially heads into another wet summer with a predicted return of La Niña.
Commissioner York shares his concerns.
"I will be having conversations with the Department of Premier and Cabinet on how we can put in extra opportunities for our volunteers, improve the service and respond".
"But you know, we've just got to accept sometimes some of these significant events at a point in time over a very short period when the weather comes down in those unexpected areas will stretch any organisation.
"So I say to those volunteers keep strong. Keep your chin up. You have done a fantastic job in helping the communities when you are called out."
