Flood affected Edgecumbe residents returning to their homes

Flood affected Edgecumbe residents are making their way back into their homes.

People living in the northern area of town, around College Rd, have been given the chance to get into their homes this morning.

Some are going in for the first time, but it's the second opportunity for Kristy Murphy who managed to check her home briefly yesterday.

More people are being allowed to return to their homes as the floodwaters begin to recede. Photo / Alan Gibson

This morning she is taking her pets - a cat and dog - back to their playground.

She has been staying at the Thornton Rd camping ground but was keen to get back home.

She was pleased to see that it hadn't been too badly affected by the floodwaters.

"It's dry as, even at the back," she said.

There also wasn't any sign of mud.

Another resident, Malcolm Quail, who lives on Puriri Cres, is resigned to the fact he won't get back to his home in the near future.

Flooding in Edgecumbe forced exacuation of residents. Photo / Andrew Warner

The last time he visited his property - Saturday - it was knee-deep in water.

He managed to get a couple of items out but his precious ventilator - which he uses at night to help him sleep - had broken.

He'd since got a new one from the hospital but hasn't been able to use it properly.

The dairy farm worker said he hadn't slept since Thursday morning. He went to go home for breakfast after milking but only got as far as the retirement village on College Rd.