"You can see the emotion in people's faces when they're talking to you," Central Otago District Council building control team leader Stewart Geddes said.
He began work yesterday checking homes in the suburb of Avonside.
Mr Geddes, one of three building control officers from Central Otago who are among the 100-strong team helping to assess homes in and around the city, did similar work after the September earthquake.
"The damage, size-wise this time is far greater, estimated at about three times greater, but also the people we're dealing with have far higher stress levels than the ones we encountered last time," he said.
Many of the homes he had inspected so far were empty.
"There's not a lot of people who have stayed put. People have gone to stay with friends, with family, or just fled because they don't feel safe, and you can understand that."
There was a high percentage of rental homes and state housing in that area and people who were still in their homes were under huge pressure.
"There's a lot of emotion. There's people struggling to feed their families. They're concerned about the loss of jobs and just the logistics of everyday life, with no water, no power, no sewerage and it being so difficult to get around."
Each home is visited by a team of three people - a building control officer, a welfare officer (Salvation Army or Red Cross) and an Earthquake Commission representative, Mr Geddes said.
"Part of the job is just talking to people on site and you can tell they're really hurting. They all have stories to tell about friends and family who have been caught up in the earthquake and it's great to be here and give them some support."
"They're so pleased to see you and get some reassurance."
He was also based in Avonside in September and said the damage was similar to then -"there's pockets of damage".
Residents who had opted to remain were "soldiering on" and trying to keep positive.
"It's heartwarming to see neighbours rallying together, holding street barbecues and things like that, even though it's such a difficult time."
Central Otago's building control officers are staying in a self-contained campervan, and it was eerie driving into Christchurch on Wednesday night, with the city in darkness, he said.
"Usually, Christchurch is lit up like a Christmas tree, but this time, there wasn't a light to be seen. It was quite eerie."
