Grey district mayor Tony Kokshoorn says council staff will be with residents on Sunday morning as they assess the damage from Saturday night's tornado.
The twister ripped roofing iron off at least three houses on Doyle Street in the Blaketown area of Greymouth, and the houses were declared uninhabitable for the night.
At least one other small building, thought to be a garage, was destroyed.
Mr Kokshoorn said the council will ensure accommodation is found for the residents while their properties are repaired.
Tony Kokshoorn Photo: AFP FILE
"We will certainly be looking, as a council, to see if there are any needs of those families .... these people will be taken care of."
Power was restored to all except the abandoned homes on Saturday night.
Chief fire officer of Greymouth fire brigade, Lee Swinburn, said no one was hurt, but the full extent of the damage won't be known until daylight.
