Regional Weather Event

The Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, covering the Waikato region north of Taupo and including Coromandel, is still monitoring the weather front and Flood threat across the region, following the last 3 days of excessive rain.

The Waikato Group’s Emergency Operation’s Centre (GEOC) is continuing its monitoring role of coordinating the three Emergency Operations Centres within the region.

There has been major impact from the storm in the Thames Valley Emergency Operations area (TVEOA), which includes the Coromandel and Hauraki areas. One of the worst hit areas was the township of Waitakaruru on SH26, where district council staff in conjunction with Environment Waikato staff used pumps and sand bags to ensure the township was kept safe from the rising waters in the Waitakaruru River.

Many roads where closed around the TVEOA due to surface flooding, land slips and fallen trees from strong winds. Power outages were common over the weekend and recent days. Te Aroha was hit with a power outage and loss of roofs to 12 properties with 3 families being evacuated due to the storm damage. Power has since been restored to the township

The winds and floods seem to have settled in the TVEOA but the Waikato Valley Emergency Operation Area (WVEOA) is now taking the brunt of the weather event.

The WVEOA Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) raised its operations level from Monitoring to Activated in anticipation of dealing with rising river levels.

Key agencies including Environment Waikato and Civil Defence Emergency Management met for a briefing meeting yesterday afternoon, to assess the rising rivers and the next period of flood management for the approaching weekend period.

The WVEOA has had numerous road closures, land slips with some families having to be evacuated from their properties as well as a large number of call outs from the public for assistance.

Some of the areas affected by rising waters or power outages were Hamilton, Raglan, Taupiri, Waitomo, Otorohanga, Pirongia and Cambridge.

“The rain forecast and river levels are being closely monitored to identify flooding potential for threatened areas. Though the rain may have eased, the ground is still sodden; the river levels are very high with tributaries still feeding into the main rivers. This means the threat of flooding will continue”.

The Waikato CDEM Group is asking the public to be extremely vigilant and cautious when travelling. Many Roads are affected by fallen trees and road slips.

If the public have any worries or identify weather damage they are asked to inform their local councils.

Mr Alexander (the duty Emergency Management Officer) says “a key threat is around rivers and riverbanks. Though these may be exciting to visit they can be extremely dangerous and we would urge the public to stay away from these areas. All travel arrangements should be checked before setting out it is also recommended that people give themselves plenty of time to enable driving within the conditions”.

Mr Alexander says the Waikato has reported heavy rainfall and river level increases throughout the region. Environment Waikato reported its systems for measuring river levels has worked well during the storm period but there is still a period of uncertainty of how the river levels will react to the heavy rainfalls. The next few days will be crucial to the Waikato Valley area.

Local councils have been out and informed farmers and property owners in low-lying areas of the threats and what precautions to take.

Mr Alexander says that Civil Defence staff, Lifeline repair teams, NZ Fire service as well as district and city council staff have worked long and intense shifts, day and night to ensure the safety of the public and they will continue to way past the end of the weather front to ensure the recovery of the region affected by this weather event.

The Waikato CDEM Group would like to remind the regional public that the free government help line (GERL) 0800 779 997 is active.

There is also a free help line for Waikato based farmers and other rural residents. The free help line, 0800 787 254357, has been set up by the Waikato Rural Support Trust.