Photos give peek of flooded homes

By STUART DYE

Residents of the small coastal settlement of Scott's Ferry, at the mouth of the Rangitikei River, scrambled to see photos of homes they had to flee, while waiting to return to the village.

It had been the first opportunity for evacuees, gathered in the Bulls Town Hall, to see how their homes had fared after Monday's deluge.

The pictures told a grim story. Many of the 50 homes in the settlement, 19km southwest of Bulls, were almost completely under water at the flood's height.

The pictures were taken by a kayaker on Tuesday. "I'll keep it for insurance," one resident said.

Many were eager to get back, not so much to begin the clean-up but to see if their cats had survived. The kayaker reported many cats in trees and some on roofs.

Resident Neil Rawlinson said in an aerial photo he could see a speck on his neighbour's roof and he hoped it was his cat.

"It's been three days now. We just want to get out there."

Elaine Jeffree, who has lived in the village for 42 years, said they had 30 minutes to grab what they could as the floodwaters rose.

She was more worried about other residents and didn't have a chance to get many possessions from her own home.

"She saved my dog," said resident Marjorie Woodruff, giving Mrs Jeffree a hug. Mrs Jeffree also got her own dogs out but her cat, Baz, remains in the town.

Despite being homeless and tearful, they were thankful for support from friends and the community.

Sarla and Ash Dhanjee live in Palmerston North, but have owned a home at Scott's Ferry for nearly a year. "We love it out there, it's just so nice and peaceful ... well, it was," Mr Dhanjee said.

Waters were receding last night but not as rapidly as hoped.

Horizon's Regional Council Controller Michael McCartney said the priority was getting drainage pumps operating.