The Hawke's Bay Regional Council had defended their decision to not formally evacuate Esk Valley residents.
Low-lying regions were given notice to evacuate on Monday February 13 and the Regional Council didn't see the need for a formal evacuation.
The Regional Council says the rising floodwaters changed swiftly and were double what had been forecast.
Hawke's Bay Today editor Chris Hyde says the council should have evacuated the entire Esk Valley region in the lead-up to Cyclone Gabrielle, given the valley's history with flooding.
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