South Dunedin residents were preparing to leave their homes as rain continued to fall on Dunedin last night.

Residents of Surrey St in Caversham were instructed by Civil Defence to evacuate about 9.30pm. About 10pm, people could be seen packing their cars in preparation to leave their homes.

Pam Warner, on the other hand, was not going anywhere.

"I’ve lived here 41 years, been through this three times, in 1991, 2015 and now, and I’ve never evacuated. I’ve got three cats and a dog in here, I’m not going anywhere."

In 2015, the water was "lapping at the back door, but didn’t come in", she said.

She had not heard anything from Civil Defence, although her daughter had dropped off some sandbags.

It always flooded in Surrey St when there was a downpour like this, she said.

"Maybe I should put some pants on. I might be swimming out of here."