The focus now was on getting more of the district's roads reopened. Fifty were still closed due to either surface flooding or damage caused by flooding, Mr Ridley said.
Whitestone Contracting staff had been out all day, trying to get roads open and making minor repairs.
It would take time for contractors to get around all 50 roads.
It was "fantastic" that State Highway 1, north and south of Oamaru, was open, Mr Ridley said.
He had driven from Oamaru to Dunedin yesterday and while there was no surface flooding, there were potholes and debris in places.
At this stage, the cost to the Waitaki District Council had not been assessed and it would be weeks before it was known, he said.
A Civil Defence debrief to be held in the next two weeks has been tentatively scheduled for June 10.
Mr Ridley was "really happy" with the response, saying it was pleasing to have handled an event that ran so long and stretched resources, without having to declare a state of civil emergency.
"We were able to manage the situation and mitigate the harm," he said.
There had been some minor slumping at Moeraki, but nothing the public should be greatly concerned with, he said.
Concerns had been held for the safety of a 40-year-old North Otago man who fled from police in the dark on Sunday morning, running across flooded areas and in an area where there were cliffs.
The man had been spotted driving erratically on Livingstone-Duntroon Rd about 3.10am.
He lost control of his vehicle and it slid off the road. The man left the scene on foot.
The weather was "atrocious" and he was wearing a T-shirt and jeans.
The immediate concern was for his welfare, Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy said yesterday.
The dog team was called from Dunedin and police searched for about four hours, and checked his address, but failed to locate him.
He appeared at the Oamaru Police Station yesterday and was charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.
He will appear in the Oamaru District Court at a later date.
