The Bay of Plenty region was inundated with rain and severe weather from ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie from 3 to 6 April 2017. Although the whole of the region was affected, the Eastern Bay of Plenty felt the most significant impact. The high rainfall resulted in all rivers in the region reaching warning levels with some rivers reaching potentially record levels. A breach of the Rangitāiki River stopbank at College Road in Edgecumbe occurred on the morning of 6 April 2017, which resulted in widespread flooding of properties and the evacuation of people from the town.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council manages river and drainage schemes across the region. The breached stopbank in Edgecumbe is part of the infrastructure assets that make up the Rangitāiki-Tarawera Rivers Scheme. The Scheme provides stopbanks, channel edge stability works and some drainage and flood pumping services to the township of Edgecumbe and the Rangitāiki, Galatea and Waiohau Plains. The Matahina and Āniwaniwa hydro-electric power stations, and their associated hydro lakes, are located on the Rangitāiki River, upstream of Edgecumbe.

There has been a major impact on people and property from the breach of the stopbank at College Road, Edgecumbe. The entire Edgecumbe township was evacuated as many urban and rural properties became inundated – 15 properties were assessed as severely damaged and around 250 properties assessed as habitable with repairs.