It was actually tree branches flying through his roof, smashing bricks into the ceiling of his Hyam Street home in Nowra.

Mr Gribble and his wife Helen awoke at 4.10am Sunday to the terrifying sounds of wind and water cascading into their house.

“It was pitch black, I got up and couldn’t find a torch, then I saw wind blowing through the window and I was standing in broken glass,” Mr Gribble said.

When daylight broke, the couple was able to see the extent of the damage.

“There’s a tree speared into the ground out the back,” Mrs Gribble said.

“It’s flattened every fence in the place,” Mr Gribble added.

“Everything was covered in pulverised leaves.”

The couple and their neighbours began the clean-up at first light.

“My biggest worry is replacing these bricks,” Mr Gribble said.

“It is English bond brick.

“If we get rain now, the ceiling will get wet and the bricks will probably drop into our lounge room.”

Despite the devastation to their property the couple simply got on with the job.

“What’s the use of crying about it?” Mr Gribble said.

“It’s more of a nuisance than anything – it could have been worse the ceiling could have fallen on our heads.”