The Selwyn District Council, Environment Canterbury and hut residents had been monitoring the Rakaia River after high tides pushed shingle into the river mouth, creating a semi-blockage.
Council head of emergency management Al Lawn said these factors, along with rain from the high country, led to water levels rising and getting close to the huts last Saturday.
The council’s duty officer then went to the huts to assess the situation and decided extra assistance was needed.
Units from Southbridge and Leeston volunteer fire brigades were called in to help place sandbags at five properties at risk of flooding.
A resident, who didn’t want to be named, said the prevention measures could not have worked any better.
"It would not be possible to get a better plan than what it did.
"I’m sure anyone down there will support pretty much the fact that it goes like clockwork.
"But you’re fighting a wild river of nature, so she will do what she wants and we’ve just got to deal with it.”
