Earlier this week, the Otago Daily Times reported on Krystal Brens and her family, who were stuck in limbo — unable to access their belongings after their home was red-stickered following this month’s deluge.
Ms Brens’ house was fully insured, but the land it sits on has continued to slip and one of the house piles has cracked.
The damage, caused by the landslip, fell under the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC), formerly the Earthquake Commission, and was not covered by her insurance, she said.
The NHC would pay out the lesser of either the value of the affected land or the repair costs.
A Givealittle appeal had raised over $12,000 in five days and she wanted to thank everyone who had offered support, she said.
"It’s been incredible and extremely overwhelming ... It’s something I didn’t expect and it’s really heartwarming in an incredibly dire situation like this."
Her home was "everything" to her and she wanted to return there.
Her private insurer could offer only limited support but had marked her case as high priority, while the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) had been in touch and was looking for a three-bedroom house, she said.
An NHC geotechnical report was expected this week, "which is amazing after it was said it could be six months".
Despite this, she would still have to pay for a further geotechnical report to assess the suitability of any repairs to her home.
"I can’t move forward and get anything done without that report."
She expected to be paid out for the affected land value, which she estimated was less than a quarter of her property.
"Once the claim is all settled, it’s a cash settlement and then that claim is closed and it’s up to me to organise my own repair, to organise builders, to figure out what needs to be done.
"I am struggling to take in and retain any information because it’s so overwhelming."
TAS response controller Al Bruce said, in a statement, the service had been activated yesterday to support displaced households in the short to medium term.
"If you are staying in accommodation provided by Civil Defence or with friends or whānau and need a longer-term temporary accommodation solution while your home is being repaired, we can help."
TAS and the household contribute to the cost of the service, but households who face difficulties due to financial hardship or exceptional circumstances may qualify for assistance.
