Families from two Vancouver Island towns that were hit by heavy floods are slowly picking up the pieces, and spent Sunday filling out government disaster-relief forms.

All of the 300 families from Duncan and North Cowichan who were ordered out of their homes after major flooding Friday have been allowed to return. But dozens of families were forced to wade through waters that swirled through their homes and destroyed many of their possessions.

The house that 17-year-old Kelly Nicholls lives in had to be evacuated and was partly submerged.

"When we first got out, the water was just seeping in, but at the end of it everything was knee-high," Nicholls told The Canadian Press. "There's things everywhere, clothes, appliances -- it's just wrecked."

Officials declared an emergency when water from two rivers and several creeks spilled over into the town due to heavy rain and a high tide. A specific dollar amount on estimated damage is expected to be released later this week.

The province said it has sent about 5,000 sandbags, two large water pumps and a helicopter to help assess the damage and to support recovery efforts. The B.C. government also said it will cover as much as 80 per cent of the cost of damage repairs for residents who qualify for relief funding.

However, it appears the funding won't cover all of the victims. Resident Devon Mills said he was told Sunday at a closed-door meeting on the province's emergency program that he's ineligible because he had been renting out his home, which lies on a flood plain.

"I'm getting no help from the province," Mills said. "Am I pissed? You bet I'm pissed."

The affected residents were also told they would receive food aid. At a community meeting, authorities announced that the Salvation Army would bring in a portable-kitchen vehicle to help provide free meals to those who have lost everything.

Many in the communities were lent a hand in the recovery effort as best they could. Ray Gudmunsen of Thrifty Foods distributed groceries to some of the flood victims.

"It's times like this that we desperately need to make sure we're helping out," Gudmunsen said.

Joe Barry, a spokesperson for Cowichan Valley Regional District, told CTV.ca those efforts will be a great relief to homeowners who are left sorting through the damage.

"These were people who lost their stoves, their fridges, they don't have any electricity. Even if they didn't get wet, they can't use them until it's safe for the power to get turned back on," he said in a phone interview.

Barry also said a local Vancouver Island Credit Union will be accepting donations for the victims and will match donations up to $50,000.

Inspectors are going from home to home to check for damage, Barry said, and homes with foundations about 15 centimetres above ground have been spared.

Rain fell in the area on Sunday and there is more wet weather expected in coming days. But the provinces' environment minister, Barry Penner, was optimistic the flooding would continue to ease.

"The river may temporarily rise, but based on current weather forecasts, we don't anticipate it going back up to flood stage," Penner said. "It seems like the worst is behind us for now."

Local authorities said an evacuation order still stands for about 100 homes in Duncan. But they said all residents could return if they believe it's safe to do so.

It may take time for some homes to be made livable again though.

"If you come back to your house and you're one of the unfortunate ones that the water did get into your house, if it got as high as your bed, you won't be staying there," said Joe Barry of the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

With a report from CTV's David Kincaid and files from The Canadian Press