Then, just like last week, floodwaters came into their Hargest St home.
This time, the retired couple felt better prepared and family pitched in to help make the most of weather warnings — placing yoghurt pottles under the legs of furniture, tying up curtains and moving belongings to higher places.
Neighbours and the broader community had also been helpful, such as by distributing sandbags.
Even so, carpet had to be pulled up and various other damaged belongings were on the street verge yesterday.
A cleanup operation was in full swing.
Mrs La Rooy, 77, said she could have sat down and cried, but there was not really time for it.
"Everyone’s been positive and that helps keep you going", she said.
"You just have to keep on keeping on."
Mrs La Rooy said the 2015 downpour exposed the Dunedin City Council’s lack of readiness but, this time, sustained rain was more than a network functioning well could cope with.
The couple’s daughters, Teresa La Rooy and Amy Christie, and granddaughter Catherine Christie, 11, were helping at the property yesterday.
Mrs Christie said the house was stinky.
Furnishings would be a mixture of items that were fine, restorable and written off, she said.
Teresa La Rooy said power points and heat pumps would have to be checked and floor lining would have to go.
The call was made about 7.30pm on Thursday to shift her parents out.
She visited the house the next morning and water filled her gumboots as she waded to it.
A neighbour had evidently dropped off sandbags and Miss La Rooy said the community had been hard at work looking after each other.
Catherine’s tasks had included packing up books and she said she found the situation on Thursday to be stressful.
"Then I started making jokes to feel more calm", she said.
"She was adamant she wasn’t leaving unless she had to", Mr van Welie said.
Damage where he lived included the skirting board being likely contaminated and losing family photographs.
Mr van Welie said he was normally stoic, but he had found the experience distressing.
"There’s still 2 foot of water under the house", he said yesterday.
Mr van Welie praised contractors and other people who helped out in the area.
He and his flatmate Angela Wilson were upset by people needlessly driving through floodwaters, creating waves that threatened residences.
Sussex St resident Kathryn Ambrose said she was startled by a Civil Defence mobile emergency alert on Thursday.
The idea she might have to evacuate had been scary, she said.
In the end, floodwaters did not make it into the house.
Items in the property’s deck area had been damaged.
Ms Harris said people had checked on their neighbours.
"Everyone acted quickly", she said.
"Being warned made a big difference."
