Homes and businesses in and around the town's central business district have been negatively impacted, with more than 11,000 losing power.

The State Emergency Service has received at least 60 calls for help and no injuries have been reported.

Essential Energy has asked people to be patient as it restored power because specialised equipment was needed to remove large trees.

'It was just so intense':

Donna Buckland, an owner of the Macquarie Water apartment hotel, said she could see debris flying "everywhere".

"There was like a big wind tunnel and it was like a whirlwind," she said.

"The trees started coming down, we lost a part of our roof, our sign has come down and taken out a tree as well.

"A few chairs came off the balcony and did damage to apartments next door.

"It was frightening. It was absolutely frightening. We could not see anything outside our sliding doors. It was just so intense."

"It was like a mini cyclone and just like a whirlwind that you could not see outside."

Residents seek shelter with neighbours:

Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement the powerful gusts ripped the roof off an apartment block in Hastings River Drive.

"Residents from three top-floor apartments rushed downstairs to seek shelter with neighbours," it said.

"A tree crashed into a house in Hay Street, tearing off its roof, and firefighters have rushed to assist a damaged private hospital in Lake Road."

It said two large gum trees that were blown over in Murray Street struck a truck and landed on a car. No injuries were reported.

A large tree was also toppled on Hayward Street, along with powerlines.

A 'scary' weather event:

The storm destroyed an office on the town's wharf and damaged a Port Jet Cruises shed that deckhand Luke Barry (Above) was inside at the time.

"It was definitely the scariest weather event that I've ever been in," Mr Barry said.

He said it started off just as a "normal little hail storm" that was quite small.

"Then all of a sudden just this huge gust of wind came through and it blew through one way and then it turned around and blew through the other way," Mr Barry said.

"I felt the office shaking around and I was very afraid that it was going to start blowing away.

"The boat started drifting as well. It was very scary."

Original Story By | Luisa Rubbo and Emma Siossian