Gisborne and smaller settlements up the coast are still cut off with major damage to roads and bridges after this weeks deluge.
Firefighters and St John personnel remain on standby in Tolaga Bay, in case locals need emergency medical care.
The clean-up bill from the 2018 floods in Tolaga Bay was more than $10 million.
Tolaga Bay Civil Defence manager Greg Shelton spoke to Corin Dann.
