An Edgecumbe couple who lived through the 1987 earthquakes say they would take it any day over today's devastating flooding.
Tawhara Pl residents Val and Ann Weir have lived in Edgecumbe since 1977 and survived the horrific 6.6 magnitude earthquake which caused extensive damage to their town.
"I'd much rather have that than this.
"At least with an earthquake you can see the damage and start cleaning up - with this we don't know what we will be coming back to, which is the hardest thing," Mr Weir said.
The Bay of Plenty Times spoke to Mr and Mrs Weir at the Edgecumbe Memorial Hall after they and their long-time neighbours, Bob and Ann Byres, had been evacuated by jet boat.