Media release #22 Wanganui District weather event - 12.15pm 25 June 2015

Published on 25 June 2015

The Wanganui District is currently in recovery mode after experiencing the largest flood ever recorded in our district.

Road closures will continue to be shown on the media releases from Wanganui District Council (www.wanganui.govt.nz). However, SH4 (Parapara Road), Whanganui River Road and Kauarapaoa Road have multiple slips and dropouts that will take some time to clear.

A big thank you the team ‘on the ground’ who have been working tirelessly to clear roads and support communities – great progress is being made. Thank you also to our community and the many volunteers who are willing to give their time to help others.

Figures

400 people evacuated

200 houses evacuated

200 people isolated in the rural area

20 properties with red building assessment notices

140 properties with yellow building assessment notices

Weather warning

Wet weather is forecast for this weekend which could overload already fragile systems. We urge residents to be prepared for power outages and make sure they have stocks of water and general supplies. Rain will cause further slips and debris on roads so road users are urged to take extreme caution.

Building inspections

Our building inspectors have completed inspections of buildings within the cordoned off areas to establish status of liveability. Some properties are being revisited for further checking and inspections will begin in other areas.

If your house or business is in a cordoned off area and the cordon has not yet been lifted, you may not enter regardless of whether there is a red, white or yellow notice on the building. Cordons take priority over notices. The cordons are in place to protect public safety.

The team is categorising buildings using coloured notices:

Red: Entry prohibited (building is at risk from external hazard or has been seriously damaged)
Yellow: Restricted access (need to check with power, gas and insurance provider before occupying)
White: No restrictions

For security reasons, the areas that have been inspected will not be made public.

Taupo Quay cordon area

The Taupo Quay cordon may be lifted on Friday. Property owners and occupiers within the cordon will be contacted after 8.00am Friday to advise when the cordon will be lifted.

Contractors will be working on Taupo Quay until 10.00pm Thursday.

Anzac Parade cordon area

The roadway on Anzac Parade from Jones Street to Eastown Road is likely to be cleared by the end of Thursday. The cordon is likely to be lifted on Friday. Residents in that section of Anzac Parade will be contacted after 8.00am Friday to advise when the cordon will be lifted. They will be able to access their properties from the Anzac Parade/Jones Street cordon before the cordon is lifted and the general public can access the area.

Anzac Parade from Jones Street to Ikitara Road will remain cordoned until at least the weekend or later. Red Cross is co-ordinating escorted visits for residents so they can take their insurance assessor to their property, collect essentials and check on pets.

Residents will need to register and get an official tag to enter the cordon area.

We’re working to get information and updates to evacuated residents as quickly and efficiently as possible. Residents who have email access and would like to receive email updates about their property should send their email, name and address details through to the Recovery Team recovery3.cdem@wanganui.govt.nz so they can send information through as soon as it becomes available.

Rural district

The focus on Thursday continues on getting essential supplies to isolated residents by helicopter. In addition, Red Cross and Rural Fire representatives are visiting residents with limited road access to check on their welfare.

Welfare will be co-ordinating with patients’ GP practices and Whanganui District Health Board to assess and respond to medical needs of these communities.

Individuals who require evacuation – such as expectant mothers or people with long-term health conditions – will be evacuated on a case by case basis.

Fuel supplies can be delivered by helicopter if there is no road access. Fuel should be delivered to Wanganui Airport. However, if there is road access this is the preferred delivery method for fuel.

Bridges

All bridges are now open. There is a road block on Anzac Parade at Pehi Street near the Aramoho Rail Bridge.

Water

All houses in residential areas have water, with the exception of six houses whose owners have been contacted and provided with water. All Wanganui District tap water is safe to drink.

Gas

If you have self-evacuated from your residence please ensure you contact your gas supplier. Gasnet staff are on standby and a call centre is open – 0800 3492050.

Evacuations and welfare

The welfare centre at St Paul’s Hall in Guyton Street will close at 7.00pm Thursday. The welfare centre at Wanganui Girls’ College will continue to operate and will be open for the rest of this week and over the weekend. At this stage, it will be open 8.00am to 7.00pm every day.

GPs

All GPs and pharmacies in the district are open. Please see your usual GP and pharmacy.

Important notice regarding dust

Patrick O’Connor, Medical Officer of Health, Public Health:

As silt dries, dust is becoming a notable feature of the clean-up.

Evidence, based on studies of liquefaction exposed to sewage in Christchurch, indicates a low risk of bacterial and viral infection to public.

There may be irritant effects, especially to eyes, nose, and throat. Some individuals are more susceptible than others. Goggles and masks may be needed in some circumstances. Wet wiping of surfaces minimises dust exposure. Careful hand-washing is recommended after direct contact with the dust.

Temporary accommodation

Any evacuated residents needing long-term temporary accommodation can talk to Housing New Zealand at the Work and Income offices, Level 1, 133 Wicksteed Street. This service will be available from midday on Thursday and then 9.00am-4.00pm.

Evacuated residents in temporary accommodation will be contacted today to discuss long-term options.

Supporting one another

While the wild weather has passed, we still need to look after each other. It’s important to check on those around you, your friends, whanau, and neighbours. If you know of people who might need support - the elderly, people with disabilities, young families, those with English as a second language - please check on them, share this message and translate if needed/possible.

Health care professionals will be at St Paul’s Welfare Centre on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10am-12pm, if you want some support or just a chat and a cuppa tea.

Animal welfare

If you have a dwelling in a cordoned area, and you are concerned about your pets, please contact the Wanganui District Council on (06) 349 0001.

Silt build up

Disposal of silt from private property is the owner’s responsibility. We urge residents not to put silt on the grass verge or road as this is likely to block the stormwater drainage system that drains the roads and surrounding properties.

Bullocks in Taupo Quay is open to assist residents wishing to dispose of silt. Where possible, silt should be taken to this location. This service is for residents only.

To be safe, treat all silt as potentially contaminated and wear rubber gloves and protective clothing.

Contractors who need to dispose of large quantities of silt should contact the Emergency Operations Centre, phone 349 0001. Contractors cannot use the Bullocks disposal facility.

Disposal of damaged goods from residences and businesses

Disposal of goods and furniture is the owner’s responsibility.

Minor flooding of properties

Residential sections that have been subject to flood water and silt can be treated by spreading hydrated lime to remove odour and some contaminates. Contact the Council if you have any concerns about your property.

Central city cordons

Part of the city centre remains cordoned off as a no-go zone. Cordons are in place at:

Taupo Quay – from Bates Street to Victoria Avenue
Market Place – Taupo Quay access
Drews Avenue – Taupo Quay access

Roads

New Zealand Transport Agency advises that State Highway 4 (Parapara) is closed and contractors are currently working from both Raetihi and Whanganui ends towards a major slip in the middle of the route. It is going to be at least early next week before access is restored for 4WD emergency vehicles and some time for general public access. A full assessment is already under way which will give more information to know when the highway will be open.

In association with Ruapehu District Council, we are attempting to cut a track through forestry and rural land from Pipiriki to link up with Jerusalem so that crews can then work to the north and south of Jerusalem to clear slips on the Whanganui River Road. Providing there are no major dropouts, it is likely to be two months before single lane access is available to River Road residents.

It is likely to take four weeks to provide single lane access on Kauarapaoa Road.

We advise extreme caution on all roads as they are affected by slips, debris etc. Roading authorities advise that the effects of the recent event are long term and road users need to be cautious as roads will be fragile for some time.

Road closures – urban

Taupo Quay – between Bates Street and Victoria Avenue

Drews Avenue and Market Place - between Rutland Street and Taupo Quay

Ikitara Road at Willis Street

Mt View Road – access for residents only

Anzac Parade – Georgetti Road to Jones Street

Anzac Parade – Jones Street to Eastown Road

Road closures – rural

State Highway 4 Kaimatira to Raetihi

No 3 Line – urban boundary to Kaimatira Road

Whanganui River Road – State Highway 4 to Pipiriki and to Raetihi

Mangamahu Road (partly open, one slip to clear)

Polson Road

Tokomaru East Road

Rangitatau West Road (open to quarry)

Waipapa Road

Bruce Road (half open)

Creek Road (half open)

Mangawhero Road (three-quarters open)

Ahu Ahu Valley Road

Papaiti Road – Kauarapaoa Road

Ototoka Road - Maxwell

Handley Road – from Kai Iwi Valley Road to Ototoka Beach Road

Kai Iwi Valley Road

Walkways closed

Anzac Parade - City Bridge to Georgetti Road

St John’s Hill cycleway SH4/Victoria Avenue

Taylor Street walkway

Durie Hill steps

Power supply

We urge residents to contact Powerco website for updates: www.powerco.co.nz/Outages-and-Faults/

Insurance claims

For those who have insurance, it is advised to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible and make a claim. For those who do not have insurance, it is advised that you contact Work and Income New Zealand, who are available to assess anyone in difficulty and offer advice.

If any community organisations would like printed copies of this information couriered to them, please call 0800 888 202 or email info@iombudsman.org.nz and these will be sent out to you.

Spark offer to residents

Spark is offering free calls from its 26 public payphones in Wanganui and a range of other free services to help people suffering hardship after extensive flooding in the region and surrounding areas.

Local, national, 018 and mobile calls from the 26 payphones will be free between Wednesday, June 24, and Wednesday, July 1. Customers in the Whanganui region and surrounding areas who have been forced to evacuate their homes will also be able to take advantage of the following services from Spark within the next 6 months:

CustomerLink free for 6 months – with this service customers can choose to divert their current landline calls to another nominated landline or mobile number. Alternatively they can get all calls diverted to a Call Minder service which will take messages for the customer
Reconnection fee waived for customers needing to reconnect their landline to another premise

Spark asks affected residential customers in the district to call Spark on 123 to speak with a representative about the various options and services available to them.

Spark’s offers extend to customers displaced from their homes in the area covering Brunswick, Fordell, Gonville, Kakatahi, Kai Iwi, Mangamahu, Makirikiri, Maxwell, Okoia, Whanganui town and surrounding area, Whangaehu and Waverley.

To see where the 26 Spark payphones are located go to www.spark.co.nz/storefinder.

Contact Information

Key agencies involved in the response are working to keep their online resources, such as websites and Facebook pages, as current as possible. We encourage people to ‘bookmark’ these sites for information on this and future events.

Wanganui District Council

www.wanganui.govt.nz

www.facebook.com/wanganuidistrictcouncil

www.facebook.com/yourmayorannettemain

Civil Defence Emergency Management Facebook Pages

www.facebook.com/civildefencemanawatuwanganui

www.facebook.com/nzgetthru

NZTA – Highway Information

www.nzta.govt.nz or 0800 HIGHWAYS

Roading authorities are urging road users to take extra care when driving through the Manawatu Wanganui region. Users are reminded that road conditions in an emergency are inconsistent and to check on-line resources for highway or roadway information before travelling.

Horizons Regional Council – River Levels