The Minister made the declaration while speaking to farmers at Dunedin City Councillor Mike Lord's property, near Henley, this morning.
The declaration triggers additional funding and support for those affected by the deluge which battered eastern Otago on July 21-22.
Mr Guy said the assistance was estimated to total about $750,000 to $800,000.
It included rural support payments, taxation flexibility and technical extension support services.
“With flooding like this, the real work starts after the rain has stopped. Some farms on the Taieri Plains are still under more than a metre of water and as that clears away, it leaves sodden and silt-covered pasture which is no good for feeding animals,” he said.
Mr Guy also made a $50,000 contribution to the Dunedin Mayoral Relief Fund to help people get back into cleanand liveable homes.
Fonterra have activated their flood response team as well to help farmers with the clean-up.
The Otago Rural Support Trust was doing its part by providing farmers with some funding and with professional and mental health advice, this was so farmers did not have to wait for public counselling.
