Regional council braced for second storm

Environment Waikato staff are braced for a second burst of severe weather due to hit the Coromandel and Thames Valley areas from this afternoon.

With rivers already high and ground saturated following the weekend’s wet weather, council monitoring and field staff will be keeping a very close eye on water levels, said emergency management officer Adam Munro.

“Our role is to monitor rainfall and river levels and advise residents and other emergency agencies about what’s happening so they can take appropriate action.

“Also, we operate flood management systems, such as flood pumps and spillways, which can divert water or otherwise help minimise flood damage.”

While it was positive there had been little rainfall in the past 24 hours or so, Mr Munro said the ground in the Coromandel was still saturated and therefore the area was more prone to surface flooding.

“That’s something our field staff will be keeping a particularly close eye on as they travel about the area.

“We’ll also have the Kaimai and Coromandel area rivers under tight scrutiny as we think they are probably the most likely to experience high river levels once more bad weather hits,” said Mr Munro.

More information on rainfall and river levels is available on the council’s website at http://www.ew.govt.nz/Environmental-information/River-levels-and-rainfall/

It is also available on the following telephone lines:

Ohinemuri, Kauaeranga and Waihou – 0832 25 334
Piako, Waitoa, Thames tide – 0832 25 335
Waipa, lower Waikato – 0832 25 336
Taupo basin, Awakino – 0832 25 337

Calls cost 12c a minute from a standard telephone. Calls from cell phones and pay phones are charged at cell phone and pay phone rates.