More than 11,000 people across Victoria have already applied for emergency relief payments as Victoria's flood crisis threatens to stretch out for several weeks.
Conditions appear to have stabilised in the regional hub of Shepparton, however Echuca residents are on high alert for a second flood peak.
Echuca, which is in Victoria's north, fared better than expected in the flood peak from the Campaspe River, but another peak from the Murray River is on its way on Wednesday.
Residents were on Monday scrambling to safeguard their properties from potential inundation by building a 2 kilometre flood levee through the town.
Echuca is facing a one-in-1000-year flood event and the SES has warned that up to 2,000 properties are still at risk of flooding in the town.
In Rochester, early assessments suggest 85 per cent of properties in the town have been flooded, but flood waters from the Campaspe River are starting to recede.
Kerang residents have been warned the town could be isolated for up to seven days after floodwater reaches its predicted peak there on Wednesday night.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the flood threat may be easing in some areas, but there are many weeks of hard work to come.
"It's a very significant even affecting many, many tens of thousands of people," he said.
"There's going to be many months where these communities still feel the impacts of this flood event and there'll be many people who are out of their homes for an extended period."
Mr Andrews said 11,061 people had applied for emergency payments of up to $2,000, giving authorities some idea of the scale of the impact of the floods so far.
The government has announced $165 million in emergency funding for road repair after surveys found the flooding had left 10,000 potholes and caused 20 landslips across the state.
The funding is part of a $351 million flood package, which also includes $150 million for a coordinated clean-up effort in the state's worst-affected areas.
Flood situation stable at Shepparton
SES chief operations officer, Tim Wiebusch, said the Goulburn River at Shepparton peaked at 12.05 metres, which was below the predicted peak of 12.2 metres.
"That 15 centimetres makes a significant difference to the number of properties either isolated or impacted," he said.
"We believe around 4,000 properties there now are either isolated or have some level of inundation."
Over 100 water rescues have taken places across Shepparton and surrounding areas in the past 24 hours.
An emergency relief centre at the Shepparton Showgrounds remained open.
Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner, Andrew Crisp, said he expected the state's flood situation to continue for some time yet.
"We're just going to see, as we saw in 2010-11, this very slow-moving flood as the water works its way into South Australia and then out to the coast. We're looking at four to six weeks," he said.
"This is a campaign event for us. Given what's unfolding now, we've asked for additional ADF aviation support so we should see the first of that on the ground or in the air tomorrow."
Federal Emergency Management Commissioner Murray Watt said emergency authorities would be kept busy as conditions continually change.
"I think one of the more worrying aspects of that, in some of those communities, it's quite likely we'll see a flood peak happen and waters recede, followed by another peak, as different river systems come together," he said.
"This is a very serious situation. The reports I'm getting, we are could be looking up to 9,000 homes inundated in northern Victoria and potentially close to about 34,000 homes in Victoria either inundated or isolated."
Ron Ash said he was "devastated" when his Echuca home was flooded on Sunday.
The 77-year-old said it was the first significant flooding he had ever seen.
"You sort of feel a bit dead inside," he said.
"There's nothing you can do about it — the water's here, we knew it was coming, but when it goes through your house you sort of think: what's going to happen next?
"I just hope everyone else is safe."
Graham Glanville's elevated house in Echuca had so far escaped damage.
But he said he was worried about flooding from the Murray River.
"It hasn't peaked yet here so it could come back and snooker us again," he said.
"But anyway, we'll just keep kicking on."
Meanwhile, residents at Kerang have been warned to move to higher ground as major flooding hits the Loddon River.
SES chief operations officer Tim Wiebusch said the Loddon River was expected to peak Monday into Tuesday, before reaching a higher peak on Tuesday night.
'Most of the neighbours have gone under'
The water had not reached John and Stacey Scully's home in Shepparton on Sunday afternoon.
Whenever they are able to return home, the couple is certain they will find a scene of destruction.
The pair were taken to safety in a boat from their home on Lonsdale Street, and were thankful they did not stick around much longer.
"Most of the neighbours have gone under," Ms Scully said.
"Both the cars are gone, they're half way up the door in water. We've lifted up everything that we can."
Rescue boats roamed Shepparton's flood-covered streets on Sunday, transporting the elderly, pets and even a toddler who was fast asleep.
Where to find emergency assistance and information
- For emergency assistance, contact the SES on 132 500
- If your life is at risk, call triple-O (000) immediately
- You can find the latest Victorian evacuation orders here
- For the latest weather updates visit the Bureau of Meteorology.
Listen to ABC Local Radio for regular updates:
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ABC Melbourne on 774am or online
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Search for a different frequency using the ABC Radio Finder.
