"We've lost everything" - those were the words of one Edgecumbe resident as his entire town was inundated.
The town's old defences were no match for the swollen Rangitaiki River which burst its banks, sending a wall of water gushing into the town at speed.
The result, almost an entire town underwater and everyone forced to get out in a hurry.
"We've had very little warning of it, the concrete bank stop bank that's been there for years breached and as soon as it breached we knew what we were in for," says Mayor Tony Bonne.
Residents were caught unaware, and many have lost everything. There are more than 600 homes underwater, and cars and vans unable to be saved.
"It was very traumatic, actually. I was on the phone only to hear a loud noise that I thought was rubbish trucks coming a day early and I went outside and all of a sudden saw a river sweeping down our street," says local resident Rachel Davis.
"Fire people rung and said they'd be along shortly - to wait. We waited for half an hour and the water was already up to my chest."
Other residents have shared their stories.
"The power was off, I opened my eyes and there was water all around my bed," says resident David Hensen.
Edgecumbe is now rallying around its residents but the size of the evacuation means those without places to go are being bussed out to welfare centres set up in Kawerau and Whakatane.
"These people are coming out, some in bare feet - they have got nothing with them, can carry just one bag," says Mr Bonne.
Everyone needs to be accounted for. Mr Hensen wasn't sure if his father was safe.
"I want to get to the other end of Edgecumbe down by the school to see my dad," he says.
The Mayor says he is "quite confident we are getting everybody out."
"Those who can't get out are being assisted so looking forward to getting everybody out and getting things back into shape," says Mr Bonne.
That will depend on when the rivers recede. In the past 24 hours the amount of water flowing down the Rangitaiki River has tripled.
Trustpower is trying to ease the pressure at the Matahina Dam, and work is underway to repair Edgecumbe's defences but the danger is far from over.
"There is real risk over the next 14 to 18 hours so the message must be really clear to people, get out and stay out," says Paula Bennett.
It's likely to be 72 hours before people can go home and even start assessing the damage done by Cyclone Debbie.
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