Recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle’s impacts continues

Horizons Regional Council continues to assess and respond to the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle both inside and outside of the region.

Horizons group recovery manager Dr Jon Roygard says Horizons has sent trained staff to Tararua District to drive 4WD vehicles as part of the effort to connect with people in remote areas.
 
“We also have Horizons staff assisting Napier City Council’s civil defence controllers,” he says.
 
“We remain ready to respond to any requests for help from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) - the lead agency for the National State of Emergency which includes Tararua. Approximately 20 staff from across the region are providing support to the Hawke’s Bay.
 
“Tararua District is continuing to respond to the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle. Boil water notices remain in place in Pongaroa and Ākitio, while Dannevirke residents are encouraged to minimise use while the Tamaki River remains turbid.
 
“A number of properties in the Tararua are still without power and more are without cell coverage, with lifelines companies continuing to work to reconnect affected households. Welfare checks are being done on a grid approach, with an area selected on a map and every property in it visited to ensure people are safe and have what they need.
 
“In regards to the rest of the region, we’re remaining in regular contact with the Rural Coordination Group to support our impacted rural communities. We’d like to acknowledge the great work rural community and industry groups are doing in this space.”
 
Dr Roygard says Horizons staff have been assessing waterway assets such as stopbanks as water levels have dropped.

“While the majority of the network held up well, the Pohangina River has multiple sites requiring repair, as well as sections of the Rangitīkei and Ōroua rivers. We will also be doing future aerial assessments of the Manawatū, Ōroua, Rangitīkei and Pohangina rivers, as well as Tararua waterways, this week.
 
“The work on the Manawatū River near Te Matai Road, which was being done to prevent erosion and improve resilience, held up well aside from some scour and erosion. Contractors returned to the site on Monday to undertake repairs and continue placing protective rock.
 
“We are also working to get resources into the Tararua District to help with repairs on river management infrastructure in the hardest hit part of the region. Landowners who see river management damage on their properties can register this with us via RMenquiries@horizons.govt.nz.
 
“Some river monitoring equipment in Tararua was damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle. We plan to have this up and running again by the middle of the week.”
 
Dr Roygard says offers of help and donations from the public have been generous and appreciated.
 
“However, the message from NEMA remains that monetary donations through relief funds are preferred. The Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management Group has also clearly indicated any donations of this kind are to go through established charities to avoid extra pressure going on those responding to the event.”
 
Regulatory advice and welfare information is available at www.horizons.govt.nz.
 
Up-to-date information on river heights and rainfall is available via Horizons 24-hour toll-free Waterline 0508 4 FLOOD or via our website www.horizons.govt.nz.
 
Updates will also be posted to the Manawatū-Whanganui Civil Defence page: https://www.facebook.com/civildefencemanawatuwhanganui/
 
For weather forecasting information please see www.metservice.co.nz
 
For road closures, delays, and warnings please see https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/manawatu-whanganui/
 
Please stay tuned to your local radio stations for another option for civil defence updates.

Image: Pohangina River in flood looking south.