Hastings 89-year-old Ted Duffill had to frantically dig a trench outside his house to save it from flooding caused in part by a council decision to divert floodwaters into his path.
Duffill lives on Jarvis Rd, Twyford. He's been in the same house for 30 years and says he has never had issues with flooding.
"I have seen a lot of rain and I can assure you we have never had it like this before. It's shocking and it's never been this bad.
"Our chook house is completely flooded. We have got a septic tank and it is not working, the toilets are not working, we can't wash our dishes."