After weeks of devastating floods, Nelson Tasman Civil Defence is today focusing on assessing damage to homes, and looking at the longer-term welfare needs of flood-affected residents.
In Ngātimoti, resident Andrea says the destruction from Friday's flooding is the worst-case scenario and has forced some families to leave the area.
She said the sound of the flooded Motueka River was unbelievable.
"[It] was deafening as it got wider and wider and more powerful.
"It got to the point where - we've got a double-glazed house - and you could hear it from the house still."
Andrea said the scale of damage was hard to comprehend, given that the settlement was hit badly a mere two weeks ago.
"We thought that the worst of the slash from the forestry had come down. We thought we knew what we were in for this time.
"And just to get hit with even more, it's just incredible. And just so many more people affected this time. It's just so devastating."
She said a handful of families had been badly affected, and she was already aware of some who had kids at the school but were having to relocate.
There has been widespread damage to private property, farmland and infrastructure like roads, from ongoing heavy rain during the past fortnight and into this weekend, with floods, slips, power outages, road closures, and buildings flooded.
Civil Defence group controller James Thompson said building inspectors would be assessing properties on Sunday and marking those with water damage.
The Motueka Recreation Centre at 40 Old Wharf Road would be open from 10am for people to chat with agencies about their welfare needs, he said.
People needing free meals can get them from Te Maatu wharenui at Motueka High School, from midday until 5pm on Sunday.
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