A FEW sandbags at Darryl Taylor's Putiki home would probably have kept the flooded Whanganui River at bay.
Mr Taylor, his wife and three children, aged from 6 to 2, were evacuated from their Kemp St home on Saturday evening but the water had receded enough on Sunday for them to return.
"We were back yesterday and were here overnight but the kids stayed with their grandma," he said. Yesterday the family, with the help of friends, were clearing out the garage.
"The floodwater was surrounding the house at one stage so we really wanted to find out what sort of damage there was. Luckily the water got no higher than the top step (of the internal link) between the garage and home so the house is okay," he said.
They were concerned when high tide peaked at 1pm on Sunday but the water got no higher. "We're just trying to dry out what we've taken out of the garage."
But he was disappointed with the response of Wanganui District Council emergency services.
"Honestly council needs to manage things a bit better. They could have provided some sandbags and that would have kept the water out of the garage. We asked them on Saturday for help but heard nothing," he said.
Bags were provided the last time the area flooded two years ago. "There are a few others around here who are disappointed too."