Number of red-stickered properties drops

The number of red-stickered homes in Nelson and Tasman has dropped to 95 on Monday.

A further 86 properties have yellow placards. The numbers are down from 126 homes that were red-stickered on Thursday, with 104 properties assessed as yellow.

The numbers change as teams continue inspections of homes affected by floodwaters or slips.

In the meantime, Civil Defence has asked that the public don’t go sightseeing, and that they keep an eye out on their neighbours’ evacuated properties.

Emergency Operations Centre controller Rob Smith said all initial building assessments were now complete in the Nelson Tasman area.

Current Nelson Tasman Civil Defence priorities were ‘‘providing wrap-around care’’ for those with red and yellow placard properties, and co-ordinating wellbeing and recovery assistance.

Smith said they would like to ensure people had registered with their local council if they require assistance, if they hadn’t already.

It was important that people did not go ‘‘sightseeing’’.

‘‘Teams are working hard to clear roads and carry out inspections and assessments so we need to keep accessways clear for safety reasons and to ensure we can get work complete efficiently and as promptly as possible.’’

It was also important for the public to contact the police immediately if they noticed ‘‘inappropriate or unusual activity, or non-residents, around neighbouring properties (especially if those homes have red or yellow placards)’’.

At least two yellow-stickered homes in Nelson South were burgled last week.

Smith said the next steps to recovery involved opening roads, getting people back into their homes, and connecting redstickered households to agencies that help with insurance advice, psycho-social support, healthcare support and iwi support.

‘‘We need to keep accessways clear.’’

Rob Smith,

Emergency Operations Centre controller