The number of red-stickered homes in Nelson continues to climb as more evacuated homes are assessed.
And some residents who are still out of their homes believe their property damage could have been avoided.
The Maitai River was in full force when relentless rain hammered down and it went smashing into a footbridge. A raging torrent of muddy water and debris.
Insurance Council New Zealand's Sarah Knox said it has left Nelson with an almighty insurance bill.
"Received over 1000 claims but that's climbing steadily as people go back in homes and find damage."
It'll be weeks before insurers know the full extent and cost, but one thing is clear: "[It's] far bigger damage than previous events."
A week on and 227 homes are still evacuated, 134 with red stickers that are deemed too unsafe to enter. And 93 with yellow, where people are allowed back to clean and insurers can begin assessing.
"In the meantime, lots of photos and things that will help dry homes out if they've been flooded. So remove carpet, soft furnishings beds couches, get them out of the house," said Knox.
Floodwaters rose rapidly as the Maitai River burst its banks. Many homes damaged on one side of Nile Street were caused by the river, but residents on the north side of the street said extensive flooding there of some properties should never have happened.
"This flood and damage was avoidable," said Nile St resident Tim Bygate.
Because the culvert blocked, overflowed and ran straight into homes, including Anne Devlin's home. Mud and silt lay everywhere, and now she's left with nowhere to live.
"We've lost our home. Just gutted and sad."
Residents said they've warned the council for years that its culvert is too small for the catchment. People tried clearing it on Thursday as the rain fell, but then they were evacuated so it was blocked again.
"Since 1974 to last week, this culvert has continued to flood on a regular basis and damage properties," said Bygate.
Officials recognised the issue on Monday when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited, though mayor Rachel Reese said the council has done all it can.
"We did a lot of work to improve stormwater controls after the 2011 event. But, you know, with this intensity there isn't a culvert in New Zealand that could have coped with it."
But residents urgently want a much larger, and better-designed, intake.
"It's very easy for us to point fingers but facts remain, that this is what caused the problem with this grill and drain right here," Bygate told Newshub
A problem they don’t want to face again.
