Media release #27 Wanganui District weather event - 11.30am 28 June 2015

Published on 28 June 2015

The clean-up continues today following the largest ever recorded flood in the Wanganui District.

Weather forecast

We are gearing up for predicted heavy rain in the rural area on Thursday and Friday this week and at the beginning of the following week. This is likely to overload already fragile systems and cause further slips and debris on roads.

Anzac Parade

Road barriers remain in place in Anzac Parade between Jones Street and Mt View Road, with residents and contractors working on properties. The Fire Service and volunteers are assisting with clearing silt and debris. Our roading and water contracting partners are also working in the area today.

The Fire Service has pumped and cleaned 70 properties in Anzac Parade. Twenty more properties will be cleared today.

A special rubbish truck from Palmerston North will be collecting contaminated food from Anzac Parade properties this afternoon.

Attention is also turning to Kowhai Park to get stormwater systems cleared of silt so the water can start flowing away.

Peat Park area

The Fire Service will begin clean-up efforts around the Peat Park area today.

Rural area

On Saturday Red Cross personnel visited residents in most of the eastern rural area of the district as far as Mangamahu to check on welfare and needs. They will continue visits on the western side of the district today.

The Ruapehu-Wanganui Rural Support Trust is available to help people, particularly farmers, in the rural area who require assistance. Phone 0800 787 254.

Welfare Centre

The welfare centre at Wanganui Girls’ College is open 8.00am-7.00pm on Sunday with various agencies based there to assist residents. It will be open again on Monday (8.00am-7.00pm).

Taupo Quay/Moutoa Quay

Taupo Quay is open to traffic. Silt removal from the Moutoa Quay area is progressing well.

Building inspections

Some 244 buildings have been visited by the Council’s building inspectors to establish status of liveability.

The team has categorised 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.

Some properties are being revisited for further building checks. All properties with yellow notices have now been revisited. Of these, 100 buildings have received insanitary building notices. This means the building needs work done before people can use it because water has damaged some of the interior linings. Next week attention will turn to the buildings with red notices.

Power cuts

As Powerco works to establish the connection to electricity, some areas may experience power outages.

If there is no power in your neighbourhood, please take the following precautions:

Turn off and unplug appliances and computers. Leave one light switched on to indicate when the power has been restored.
Avoid using candles wherever possible because they can be fire hazards.
Do not use a gas stove for heating or operate generators indoors (including the garage). Both could cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
If a traffic signal is not working, treat it as a stop sign.
Be careful about food safety when your fridge and freezer power is off and minimise the times the fridge and freezer doors are opened.

Please visit the Powerco website for updates: www.powerco.co.nz/Outages-and-Faults.

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 Yard 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. Please do not put damaged goods on the road.

People can put their damaged goods on their front lawn if they are unable to get a skip bin because they have no insurance. Applications to the Mayor’s Special Fund for reimbursement for skip bins will be considered on a case by case basis.

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.

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.

If residents return home and find water has gone through the inside of their property (and there is no notice to this effect) please contact the Council’s Building Control team.

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.

Road closures

Rural

SH4 Kaimatira Road to Raetihi
No 3 Line, from the urban boundary to Kaimatira Road
Whanganui River Road, SH4 to Pipiriki and to Raetihi
Papaiti Road (half open) to Kauarapaoa Road
Ahu Ahu Valley Road (three-quarters open)
Watershed Road (three-quarters open)
Handley Road, from Kai Iwi Valley Road to Ototoka Beach Road
Creek Road (three-quarters open)
Bruce Road (half open)
Ototoka Beach Road
Kai Iwi Valley Road (had reopened but closed on Saturday night due to further slip)

Urban

Anzac Parade from Mt View Road to Jones Street
Ikitara Road – Anzac Parade to Willis Street

Walkways closed

Anzac Parade - City Bridge to Georgetti Road
St John’s Hill cycleway SH4/Victoria Avenue
Taylor Street walkway
Durie Hill steps
Mt View Road zigzag

Volunteer assistance

All volunteers are being co-ordinated through the Emergency Recovery Office.
If you are able to volunteer, please call the Volunteer Co-ordinator on (06) 349 3055.
If you need help with cleaning up after the flood, the Volunteer Co-ordinator can put you in touch with people who have registered to assist. Phone (06) 349 3055.
Volunteers are asked to provide shovels, wheelbarrows and gumboots where they can.

Volunteer assistance criteria

Volunteers may be allocated to assist private property owners under the following understanding:

Information to property owners

Volunteers working on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.
Owners are advised that there is no have knowledge of the background of the volunteers.
The owner is responsible for health and safety of persons working on their property i.e. don’t ask them to do anything that could result in injury.

Information to volunteers

Volunteers shouldn’t have to do any work for the owner that they consider dangerous or risky.
It is possible volunteers will be asked when on site to carry out tasks that are not related to the flooding. It is up to the discretion of the volunteer whether they agree to do the work. They are encouraged to limit their assistance to the flooding event.
On completion of the task please report to the Supervisor that the work has been completed.

Donations

Donations to assist people affected by the floods can be made to the Mayor’s Special Fund:

Westpac 03 0791 0355050 04.

This fund will be available to support people with their more immediate needs.

Water

All Wanganui District tap water is safe to drink.

Spark offer to residents

Spark is offering free calls from its 26 public payphones in Whanganui 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 offer extends 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