A break in the weather has brought some relief to southern British Columbia's drenched flood zone. Water levels dropped as rains tapered off, but it will be Thursday at the earliest before evacuees can return home.

The heaviest rain in a century has already killed two people and searchers were continuing to comb a riverbed for two others who are still missing.

In two of the worst hit communities -- Squamish and Pemberton -- some 1,000 residents were waiting for permission to return home after fleeing the flood.

Last weekend, Squamish endured record-breaking downpours totalling 400 millimetres -- the amount of rain that usually falls in the entire month of October.

Word that it's safe to go home might not come until Thursday. Squamish Mayor Ian Sutherland said evacuees must first have their homes checked for safety, citing the havoc flood water can wreak on fuse boxes and gas lines.

Nevertheless, Sutherland appeared optimistic during a press briefing.

"The worst is behind us," he told reporters.

The weather forecast did appear brighter with just 10 millimetres of rain expected in the 24 hour period up to mid-day Wednesday.

While the flood danger is diminishing, a sense of shock is setting in for many residents who are just now beginning to tally the damage.

Cleaning up will take time and a lot of money, early estimates peg the destruction at more than $20 million.

It's a cost exacerbated by the fact that hundreds of homeowners didn't have flood insurance because of where they live.

"Insurance coverage for some people, if they live in an area that is recognized as being a flood area ... they can't get insurance for their homes," said Sutherland.

Between 250 and 300 homes have been flooded in Squamish -- the majority not covered by insurance.

Town by-laws require new homes to be built on raised land to avoid flood problems, but that does little to help people living in older places.

The only source of help for them is the provincial government, which has itself been flooded with requests for help.

The B.C. government has promised money, but hasn't said how much or when it might arrive.

Early Tuesday morning, crews repaired a washed-out section of road north of Pemberton -- paving the way for the resumption of single-lane, alternating traffic and the replenishment of the town's dwindling supplies.

But the road north from Whistler to Pemberton is still cut off because of a bridge collapse at Rutherford Creek, where two vehicles plunged into the water.

Pemberton RCMP Const. Michelle Friesen said a sports utility vehicle carrying three people was swept away.

One person swam to safety and two others were missing. A jeep was also engulfed and two bodies were recovered.

The names of the dead and missing are being released pending notification of next of kin, Friesen said.

While the flooding has damaged homes, businesses and farms, the mayor of Squamish said the flooding hasn't sunk people's spirits.

"Life goes on," Sutherland said. "The kids are still going to skating lessons and the schools are open."

He said the relief effort has been deluged with volunteer offers from within his community and as far away as Chilliwack, B.C.

"People want to do what they can to make life easier for the people who have been evacuated and make life easier for the people who are here working."

With reports from CTV's Todd Battis and The Canadian Press