Aid for isolated flood victims

on Arakihi Rd, inland of Tolaga Bay, to find another slip on West Ho Rd, Civil Defence said.

Structural engineers were coming in from Whanganui to help with bridge inspections.

In some cases, the undersides of bridges could not be assessed because there was no access underneath.

Taira¯whiti Civil Defence emergency manager Louise Bennett said that while road closures might be frustrating for residents, it was a safety precaution. A large amount of debris, sludge and silt was still on the roads yesterday morning, and the public was reminded to stay off any that were closed.

Severe weather watches issued overnight Wednesday have now been lifted.

All rivers stayed below the first alert levels and no new issues were reported in Tolaga Bay because of the rain which fell overnight.

Heavy rain caused water to flood through Tolaga Bay, crashing through homes and causing localised devastation when the Mangaheia River burst its banks on Monday.

It took slash – forestry debris – in its wake, damaging roads and bridges and piling up on farms and in gullies.

Gisborne mayor Meng Foon said the forestry sector would support what he expected to be a $10 million cleanup of the area but ratepayers would also have to help pay.

On Wednesday, Forestry Minister Shane Jones called the debris-strewn flood an extraordinarily severe weather event and a ‘‘wake-up call’’.

The Government, he said, would decide in the next week or so what it could do to help.