Officials examined homes along the St. John River in flood-ravaged New Brunswick Saturday, looking for any environmental dangers or structural damage as water levels recede.

Many residents have begun the slow work of clearing their flooded basements, placing their soaked belongings to the curb.

"There's been damage," Fredericton resident Andre Faust told CTV Atlantic. "I've lost a furnace. We had 25 inches of water."

Five days ago, Faust registered his home with the New Brunswick government on a list of flood-damaged buildings. On Saturday, five inspectors examined his property.

Fire Prevention Chief Paul Flemming said officials have been forced to evacuate some houses because of health concerns.

"The latter part of last week we had to take a couple people out of their homes," he said.

"We're concerned about things like mold forming in the house and the environment in the house not being suitable for habitation."

Inspectors say electrical problems are the most common problem, and in rare cases houses have been condemned.

Fredericton resident Nancy Rideout estimates the flooding caused her $80,000 in damage, but said she is still able to live in her home. She told CTV Atlantic she had no idea the flood would destroy so much.

"It was really overwhelming and devastating to come home," she said. "I came home from work to see (the damage) -- I didn't know how much water was here -- and I opened the door and say my deep-freezer floating by.

"I thought I was going to be sick."

Homeowners can apply for up to $80,000 in compensation for essential items, and it's estimated that more than 1,000 residents will apply for disaster relief.

It's unknown how much the flooding has cost the province in repairs. Last week, N.B. Transportation Minister Denis Landry warned that fixing the province's roads alone would cost millions of dollars.

New Brunswick's 1973 flood had similar water levels and caused Fredericton and the surrounding farmland about $78 million in damage, according to the city's website.

With a report by CTV Atlantic's Erin O'Halloran in Fredericton