Message from the Rangitikei mayor
Our district has, over the last few days, had a snow dumping that some locals have said has been the worst since 1965.
Some areas escaped relatively lightly, while in other parts it was up to 2-metres deep.
For some of us it was a winter wonderland to be played in, enjoyed and captured on film in perpetuity.
However, for many it brought with it, and will continue to bring for a while yet, hardship, loss of income, isolation and fear.
As with any event we have, there are lessons to be learned. This time it was communication in the northern areas with cellphones and landlines going down, and with the isolation caused by both state highways and rural access roads.
The event also served to remind us about messages from National Civil Defence where everyone should plan to be selfsufficient at least three days and be in charge of their own necessities.
We all need to have a survival package containing water, matches, candles, food, a battery powered radio etc. How many of us were caught without these key necessities and how many have also identified the need to have a generator or an alternative heating source?
Council’s immediate focus must be on the provision of core services, such as sewerage, water and wastewater to our towns.
With the power cuts we lost power at our key plants and ourselves had to use our own generator resources and also borrow these from other places.
It is always difficult for council to balance the conflict of providing key services and making sure our residents are provided for; which is why it is so important for people to have their emergency supplies ready for any event – I can’t stress this enough.
This event has not yet finished, as I write this there are still areas without power, 1.5m of snow on the Taihape – Napier Road, which our roading contractors are working to clear, lots of slips and access issues to deal with and a massive amount of damage to trees and greenery across the district.
While access has been reopened, in many cases people still need to travel on some roads with four-wheel drive vehicles.
One of the issues the event highlighted was the need for very clear updates around the expected times to reinstate power and communication.
Powerco staff have worked for days in bitterly cold conditions handling an event of this magnitude.
One of the realities is that Powerco staff have spent time assisting motorists who have taken the opportunity to tour the district or just to play in the snow, and they have got stuck on roads that are only really suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles.
Finally I want to thank the number of people who checked on friends and neighbours, or used their equipment to open up roads to allow access for emergency services or access for Powerco staff.
Keep warm and dry.