EX-CYCLONE GITA HITS NEW ZEALAND; EMERGENCY DECLARED IN SOUTHERN CITY
PM JACINDA ARDERN SAID TROOPS HAD FANNED OUT TO AREAS LIKELY TO BE THE HARDEST HIT Even before the storm hit in full force, heavy rains in the centre of New Zealand brought floods in Christchurch and Buller
Astate of emergency was declared yesterday afternoon in Buller and Christchurch, with fears some homes were at a high risk of flooding from the impact of ex-Cyclone Gita. Buller District mayor Garry Howard’s made the declaration, following advice from Police and the Red Cross.
He said they were working to evacuate people from a small number of seafront homes in Granity due to flooding and high winds. He said the wind continued to build and a welfare centre was set up to accomodate evacuated residents. Mr Howard said residents asked to evacuate must comply with the directions of emergency services. In Christchurch, mayor Lianne Dalziel said the state of emergency for Christchurch City, which includes Banks Peninsula, gave people early warning to prepare.
“The full impact of the storm will be felt overnight and tomorrow morning. We are expecting homes to be flooded. If you are in a flood-prone area, particularly if your home was flooded, or close to flooding, in the July storm last year, you should consider evacuation before the worst of the storm hits tonight (last night).
“We think it’s better people make preparations while it is still light, and ahead of road closures, to allow them to get out if they wish.
“Part of Clarendon Terrace has been closed already, and we expect further streets to close over the course of the afternoon and evening. These will not reopen until the risk of flooding has gone.”
The council said flood warning signs were also in place at the Sheldon Street and Tavender Street intersections. It said people who lived in low-lying areas, whose homes have flooded in the past, should be prepared to self-evacuate this afternoon.
The council said if there was an evacuation, it would open up Pioneer Stadium for people leaving their homes. Meanwhile in the neighbouring Selwyn District, the Chamberlains, Coes and Whitecliffs campgrounds were closed due to the heavy rain and wind predicted. The Selwyn District Council said campers should make alternative accommodation arrangements before then.
Transport woes
Meanwhile, Air New Zealand flights around the country were affected by the storm. The airline said flights at New Plymouth, Hokitika and Queenstown were cancelled, including flights at Nelson and at Wellington airport.
It said it was putting on extra flights earlier to make up for any difficulties in Wellington later, and was relaxing its financial penalties for some people trying to reschedule bookings. Conditions at Blenheim, Kapiti Coast and Palmerston North airports were being closely monitored but flights there would continue for now, it said. People with bookings were advised to check the website to see if they were affected. The airline’s call centres were very busy, it said, urging passengers to avoid calling unless their travel concerns were urgent. MetService said Cyclone Gita had changed its course slightly, moving slightly further south than had earlier been expected.
Senior meterologist Lisa Murray said that meant less rain for Wellington but more for Christchurch.
“We might see the rainfall in Wellington ease off a little earlier than expected, not reaching the rainfall totals that we thought which is great for Wellington because we were concerned about rainfall there.
“As that moves south it also affects the other end of the storm so the likes of Christchurch could see some heavy falls around that rush hour traffic time.”
The latest severe weather update it had upgraded watches for heavy rain in Christchurch, Banks Peninsula and North Otago to full warnings.
Rain warnings had already been issued for Nelson and Buller, Malborough including the Kaikoura Coast, Wellington and the Kapiti Coast, Canterbury and the ranges of Westland.
In Buller, residents in the town of Granity were asked by a local fire commander to consider evacuating further south if they had family there. Severe gales were expected to hit Taranaki, Taihape and Whanganui, and the lower North Island. Nelson and Buller, Malborough, Westland and Canterbury were also expected to get severe south to south east gales.
Niwa was predicting gusts up to between 130 and 150km/h will peak around 10.30pm.
Defence Force personnel on standby
Over 57 schools and early childhood centres in the Nelson City, Marlborough, Tasman, Buller, Grey Kaik ura and Westland districts were closed for the day or closed early.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Defence Force personnel had been deployed to the areas expected to be hardest hit by the storm, and the Civil Defence unit at Parliament was on standby to be activated if required. Communication wires are also at risk, with Chorus saying it had checked and re-fuelled the generators in its exchanges and put portable generators in areas where the weather is expected to be at its worst - in case power failed. MetService said Dunedin was not yet in the storm’s path but they were keeping an eye on it.
ABoeing 747 freighter arrived in the American Samoa capital, Pago Pago, with emergency supplies for victims of Cyclone Gita.
Two Red Cross officials traveled on the Pacific Air Cargo flight and join eight others from the San Diego Red Cross, under which the local Red Cross comes. Assessments of the damage caused by Gita are expected to be completed early this week.
Schools to reopen
The director of education in American Samoa said schools will all be able to open tomorrow after being shut last week because of damage caused by the cyclone.
Two schools were without power at the weekend, and one had no water but Ruth Matagi Tofiga, is confident all schools will be ready for a Tuesday start.
Dr Tofiga said the school leadership and staff working together with the Department of Public Works have done a wonderful job. Meanwhile, faith based centres are now providing meals for people after the closure of the last of the emergency shelters, most of which were at schools.
Concern for children and the elderly
As American Samoa recovers from the damage caused by Cyclone Gita, a victims’ advocate, Ipu Lefiti, has urged vigilance in the care of both the elderly and children.
She said parents must be alert and know the whereabouts of their children at all times. Mrs Lefiti said many children would still be experiencing emotional and mental trauma from the cyclone’s effects.