Media release #11 Wanganui District weather event
Published on 21 June 2015
6.30pm, Sunday, June 21
Whangnui River flood - rural update
The focus for the Wanganui District flooding event is on recovery, especially of the rural areas. We are asking people isolated by flooding or road closures to contact (06) 349 0001 to let us know your situation.
Roading engineers Downer have assessed the flooding and slip damage to rural parts of the Wanganui District via helicopter. They have reported more than 2,000 slips in rural areas of our district.
The next step is to ensure the welfare of the communities isolated by the flooding and slips, which may mean air evacuations and/or supply drops. We are working to assess the community’s needs over the next couple of days.
Our Emergency Operations Centre at the Wanganui Civil Defence and Emergency Management headquarters will operate through the night.
Whanganui River flood – urban update
The Whanganui River level has stabilised in our urban area, with no significant increase in flooding expected. Currently the river it 8.6 metres high at the City Bridge.
Our team has begun to clear water and debris from some properties in the urban part of Wanganui. Once properties are declared safe by geotechnical engineers and Council building inspectors, we will contact home owners.
All flood waters must be treated as contaminated.
We have had reports of people venturing to flooded areas, slips and to the banks of the ricers. Please allow our Civil Defence and Emergency Management team to get on and do the job. We are advising people to stay at home and keep away from affected areas.
Evacuated properties
Many properties affected by flooding and slips will need to be assessed by geotechnical engineers, then cleaned and limed due to sewage contamination. These properties are not likely to be assessed until Monday, June 22, at the earliest. Evacuated areas in Taupo Quay, Anzac Parade and other flood and slip affected areas are cordoned off, and will be monitored by Police and Army personnel overnight.
If you have been evacuated, please do not return to your home under any circumstances.
Welfare Centres
Our Welfare Centre at St Paul’s Community Centre will close tonight at 12.00 Midnight and open at 8.00am tomorrow, Monday, June 22. You can continue to report welfare needs around the clock on 06 349 0001.
244 people have been through the centre since it opened on Saturday morning. Most people have gone to stay with friends or whanau. 400 people have been evacuated in total.
A welfare centre has been set up in Wanganui Girls’ College Hall in Wanganui East, manned by emergency services and welfare volunteers. This will be operated by the Red Cross through the night.
Water conservation
Water supply is minimal due to power outages. Water conservation is critical. Please don’t use hoses or large amounts of water to clear driveways or streets from flood waters. Tap water is OK to drink, although some areas will have reduced pressure.
Power
Power will be restored to the Kai Iwi bore at around 5.00pm tonight. Despite this, we are still asking people to conserve water. As the main power begins to come back on, there may be intermitted outages. Please talk to your power supplier about any issues. If you have an ICP number handy, this will help power suppliers to deal with your enquiries.
Please stay away from power lines.
Gas
Please report any gas leaks or issues to your gas supplier.
Telecommunications
Vodafone and Spark are aware of outages to mobile and internet services. Engineers will be out to fix faults as soon as it is safe to do so.
For more information please call Spark on 0800 800 123 or 123 on your mobile or
Vodafone on 0800 800 021 or 777 on your mobile.
Schools/education
Please contact schools and educational institutes directly to see if they will be open tomorrow.
Bridges
The City Bridge and the Dublin Street Bridge are closed due to all traffic because of potential structural damage due to debris hitting the bridge piles. The Cobham Bridge is open but only as far as Airport Road. The Railway Bridge is closed to foot traffic.
Wanganui Airport
The airport is open.
Roads and walkways
Numerous local roads in the city are closed and most rural roads are badly affected. Our team is working to clear urban roads in order to assess rural road damage. Please continue to check www.nzta.govt.nz for State Highway conditions.
Below is a list of road closures in the Wanganui District.
State Highway 3 North (one lane only)
Peat Street
London Street (near the substation)
Kakatea Valley Road
Matarawa Valley Road
SH 4 Raetihi to Wanganui
SH 3 Bulls to Wanganui
Whanganui River Road
Parihauhau Road
Turoa Road
Tanguru Street
Rangitatau Road East
Kaimatira Road
Waikupu Road
Tokomaru West Road
Kauarapaoa Road
Matarawa Street
Raine Street
Ngatarua Road
Longacre Road
Kaikokopu Road
Mangamahu Road
Hackett Street
Lucknow Street
Georgetti Road
Ikitara Road (Anzac Parade to Turoa Road)
No 3 Line (Wakefield Street to Kaimatira Road)
Denlair Road
Mangawhero Road
Te Rimu Road
Watershed Road
Waireka Road
Ahu Ahu Valley Road
Tokomaru West Road
Tokomaru East Road
Thompsons Road
Roberts Avenue
Taupo Quay (Bates Street to St Hill Street)
Gilberd Street
Kaitoke Road
Concord Line
Anzac Parade Walkway
All walkways in Wanganui East