Ngongotaha's Daniel Voss was out helping others on Sunday morning.
As a volunteer firefighter Voss spent from 9am until 4pm doing what he could to help flooded homeowners in the city. He readily admits he hadn't given his own home much thought.
"I'd heard there was flooding around Ngongotaha but thought it couldn't be that bad," Voss said. "Unfortunately when I got home I realised how wrong I was."
Water was through his house and garage.