Towns throughout Victoria are on high alert this weekend after heavy rainfall washed across the state in recent days. Flood waters claimed the first life in the state's south-west on Friday.

The state government has announced disaster relief funding for councils and individuals who have been hit by the flooding.

As families embark on school holidays, a 50km stretch of the internationally renowned Great Ocean Road - between Skenes Creek and Moggs Creek - remained closed on Saturday.

The road was closed on Wednesday after floods triggered more than 150 rockfalls and landslides.

By 12pm Saturday the Avoca River at Charlton Township was at 7.51m and rising, with major flooding continuing.

An SES spokesman said 80 houses had been door-knocked, 10 homes were at-risk and several had already been impacted.

Charlton Vale of Avoca B&B owner John Shaw said "the whole town is sort of on edge".

"It's been quite stressful, we've had three town meetings so far," he said.

"We're all a bit tired even though nothing has really happened, because it's that emotional time where you're waiting and anxious."

A fourth meeting is planned for Sunday or Monday. Mr Shaw said by lunchtime on Saturday water was starting to cross the laneway between the river and the shops.

His business sits a few houses away from the Avoca River, which he said looked like a lake and was "creeping up slowly".

"It's creeping up onto the edges of the road, there's a park directly across from us and that's now underwater," Mr Shaw said.

"Since last night the water has crept along the service road to the main road by a couple of metres. The houses closest to the river are flooded and there's a second house that has water up the driveway."

Following Premier Daniel Andrews' visit to Charlton on Friday, on Saturday the state government announced a range of disaster assistance for 22 flood affected parts of Victoria.

The jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements assistance will offer financial assistance to local councils and eligible individuals.

"A range of assistance is available to eligible individuals including personal hardship and distress assistance and financial and personal counselling," Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said.

"Assistance is also available for local councils to help with the cost of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets, such as roads and bridges, and removal of debris from homes to make them safe and habitable."

Almost exactly six years ago an estimated 80 per cent of Charlton was inundated by the town's worst flood in living memory.

The Avoca River broke its banks after five days of solid rain and spilled into town with a tidal force.

The September 2011 flood saw the river peak around 7.9 metres, only 0.49 above its current level.

The hospital was inundated and remained closed for more than six months.

Mr Shaw said he'd offered rooms inside his B&B to people whose houses were flood-affected, but otherwise he felt quite helpless as he watched the river rise.

"There's amazing community spirit in a town like this, people are willing to help out everyone, but I'm finding it a bit frustrating because I want to do something but I don't know what I can do," he said.

"My wife has been making soup for the police officers, we're certainly open to accommodating anybody that needs it."

Even though the B&B sits close to the growing river, Mr Shaw said it stayed dry during the 2011 flood and should survive the current floods.

On Thursday firefighters lined doorways and walls in the Charlton with hundreds of sandbag and Victoria Police stationed officers in the town to ensure residents' security.

The SES spokesman said the community had been responsive to doorknocking and the situation would be monitored over the next few days.

"The levels will continue to go up and down slightly, it's constantly changing," he said.

By lunchtime Saturday Victoria's north-west was still scattered with flood warnings, major warnings remained for the Avoca and the Wimmera rivers, moderate warnings for the Loddon, Ovens and King rivers.

Minor flood warnings remained for the Barwon, Glenelg, Goulburn and Murray rivers, and Seven and Castle Creeks.

There has been one fatality reported from the floods, the body of 84-year-old Frank Bell was found on Friday after his ute and three dogs were swept away in floodwaters.

The missing Macarthur farmer was found in a dam in Wallacedale.

Victorian flood facts:

• One death
• 1200 calls for help to the SES over seven days, 500 of which were flood related
• 250 roads closed
• 150 landslides and rockfalls on the Great Ocean Road
• More than 20 flood rescues
• 25 flood warnings across the state, three of which are major

For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

- With Chloe Booker and Marissa Calligeros