Piles of debris are beginning to pile up at the ends of driveways in Fredericton as families return to their homes and see what the flood waters of the St. John River left in their wake.

Burpee Street resident Marie Nason's house was under more than a metre of water after the river surged into the capital city.

Almost 50 streets in Fredericton were under water when the levels crested at 8.33 metres last week.

"Everything will have to be gutted," Nason said. "We've lost a fridge and a washer and a deep freeze so far and other personal things like pictures."

The insulation in Nason's basement walls is dripping dry and will have to be removed, she said.

Flooring in parts of the house will have to be replaced and carpeting ripped up, she said. Her wedding photos have also been destroyed.

"Where do you start?" asked Nason. "What do you keep? You have to go through everything and see what is salvageable and what is not. I don't think we can salvage much."

Nason said she expects the repairs and replacements needed in the house will cost more than $40,000.

Financial aid

A financial aid package is being offered to flood victims. The call centre to register for the assistance opened on Monday and received more than 325 calls.

Deductibles are $1,000 for individual residential claims and $5,000 for small business owners.

Along the many streets in the city's downtown that were hardest hit by the flood waters, dumpsters and makeshift trailers are collecting the destroyed belongings that families are finding as they return to their homes.

The city is preparing to help residents clear away the flood-related debris, said Wayne Knorr, communications co-ordinator for Fredericton.

"We will have someone from the city charged with this go visit those people and understand what they've got to get rid of and understand how we are going to logistically and logically move through the city," Knorr said.

The city will also be picking up larger items, including appliances and furniture, during the collection, Knorr said.

Meanwhile, the province's deputy chief medical officer, Eilish Cleary, is warning all New Brunswickers returning to their homes to inspect their properties carefully for propane tanks and sharp material among the debris.

People should also be wearing gloves and frequently washing their hands while they clean out basements and homes that were flooded, Cleary said.

Potential for contamination

"The main concern at this point in time is the potential for flood contamination," Cleary said. "If you can imagine that the water's been washing over agricultural fields and breeching sewage treatment facilities and backing up sewers, you can imagine that there are contaminants in that water."

Any food that was left in the home during the flood and its associated power outages should also be disposed of, Cleary said.

Fredericton resident Carol Muncer said she's also been told to avoid drinking the water from her well.

"We called the information line this morning and they said not to drink the water," Muncer said. "The house has to be inspected after we move in and they said to be very careful even working in the water for fear of contamination."

Muncer, a nurse, arrived to her street after a 12-hour shift during the flood to find it closed. She wasn't able to return to her house or turn on the sump pump in the basement.

Her family's belongings are still floating in water and meticulously have to be brought upstairs and dried out.

"It's a very stressful time for people," Cleary said. "There's a lot of emotional turmoil associated with loss and worry and I think it's a really important time that we encourage people to continue helping their neighbours and their communities."