27 homes evacuated on the Kapiti Coast

The Caton's house was one of 27 evacuated in Kapiti yesterday following the coast's worst case of flooding in years.

The family's home was among a collection of houses on Moa Road, Raumati Beach, dramatically affected by Thursday night's heavy rainfall, which left sections swamped with deep murky water and strewn belongings.

"The water came up through the floor boards of our house," said Philippa Caton, who purchased her home with husband Phil in 2000, unaware of similar damage to the property during 1998 floods.

"We'd just got new carpets put in about six months ago.

"It'll probably have to come up because the floors underneath are chip board, which goes like Weetbix when it is wet."

The brunt of the damage was found in the pair's garage, which was full with household items including beds, dressers and clothing.

"We'd recently moved a lot of stuff into the garage during house extensions, and now everything in there and the shed is damaged."

The couple, who has three children under five, was awaiting the arrival of an insurance assessor this morning.

"We don't really know what to do until they get here."

Woken by her husband at around 7.30am yesterday, Mrs Caton and her family were out of the property by 8.30am.

"Phil was woken by the rain and was going to leave for work early, but as soon as he opened the door he closed it again, and woke me up.

"It was a bit of a shock."