UPDATED 5.53pm

Over 680 people have registered to join the Ngāti Awa Volunteer Army, which is helping the clean-up operation in flooded Edgecumbe.

Bus-loads of people have spent the day helping with clean-up efforts, after the town was evacuated in severe flooding last week. 

A further 229 properties were allowed to be accessed today, although most can only begin to clean-up as the properties aren't fit to stay in. Only 41 homes are safe enough to spend the night, and another 14 will be bulldozed.

Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne said it is going to be a very difficult time for the people affected.

"Challenges come in, particularly with the ones who have got no insurance, and of course when people lose sentimental stuff that's also very hard."

Mr Bonne says support services - including counsellors - are in town but you have to recognise the problems those around you may be having, as people don't always ask for help.

Volunteer co-ordinator Pim de Monchy said volunteers be cleaning public property, and helping with whatever jobs people have on their sections.

"If they invite us into their houses to help out with things like removing sodden carpets or taking out couches or whiteware that might be ruined, then we'll be doing that."

Volunteers are operating out of the Ngati Awa Marae and will be back again tomorrow.

Head of Auckland's Chamber of Commerce, Michael Barnett, is among those lending a hand, and said their work is much-needed.

"Many of houses look quite normal, then you go inside and they've had a metre of water the grief that it's caused to the families that lived there is just unbelievable," he said.

Mr de Monchy said there has been an overwhelming response to his call for help.

"In fact we're a little bit worried that we're going to get more people turning up than we can handle but we're thinking that coming up tomorrow and the next day we could have a bigger volume of work ahead of us north of the railway line."

An estimated 80 properties have been cleaned today, all have had their exteriors cleaned and some have had the interior cleaned with assistance from residents. Around 150 volunteers will head into Edgecumbe tomorrow.

Safety equipment and bins will be provided, and volunteers are being asked to come prepared in appropriate clothing.

“It’ll be a messy job, but one that is made infinitely easier with so many pairs of hands,” says Mr de Monchy.

Boil water notice in force

A boil-water notice is still in force for Edgecumbe and people are being asked to conserve water.

Whakatane Civil Defence says water has been restored to much of the town but it's asking people to be mindful of waste, because the network is still fragile.

Tankers are in Edgecumbe providing drinking water, and people need to bring their own containers to fill.