New Zealand insurers stand ready to help customers affected by a one-in-100-year flood in the Canterbury region, as thousands of homes face risk of inundation.

The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) urged residents to contact their insurers for support, outlining several steps they can take if they have suffered flood damage.

These include taking photos of any damage, jotting down details of valuable items and keeping invoices of essential repairs that have been undertaken.

“Floods can leave vast damage in their wake and your insurer is there to support you and help you get back on your feet,” ICNZ CEO Tim Grafton said. “But the support isn’t limited just to the inevitable clean up.

“Most home and contents policies include a temporary accommodation benefit that will help those whose homes are uninhabitable due to damage from this event.

“If you’re in this situation, ask your insurer what support you may be eligible for.”

The entire Canterbury region in New Zealand has been declared a state of emergency as heavy rains and flooding prompted the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

Acting Minister for Emergency Jris Faafoi said in a televised briefing on Sunday that 3000 homes were at risk of flooding while the country’s MetService issued a red warning for heavy rain for Canterbury and multiple warnings elsewhere.

“This is only the second red warning issued by MetService and will be a significant weather event,” the service said.