Path of destruction

The state highway through the town has reopened while the community assesses the damage to homes and businesses.

A tornado that tore its way through Levin was as violent as it was unexpected. Communities in the lower North Island were bracing for wild weather yesterday morning, but no-one could have forecast the path of destruction cut through the Horowhenua town, leaving 10 homes uninhabitable, one person injured, and thousands of homes without power. The havoc hit hard at 6.30am, as what the district council later reported as a tornado roared through the town in a south-eastern trajectory, from Weraroa Rd, cutting across Adventure Park and Oxford St, towards Goldsmith Cres and Playford Park. Up to 50 houses were damaged while many more front yards were left a tangle of broken fences and downed power lines. Several roads were closed, including the state highway, for most of the day. Police, fire and emergency, St John, contractors, arborists and Civil Defence emergency teams were called into action after 67 111 calls, and the council received 37 welfare cares. Only one injury was confirmed. A person suffered minor injuries as a result of broken glass and was taken by ambulance to Palmerston North Hospital. Ō taki MP Terisa Ngobi, whose office on Oxford St was among the most damaged buildings, attributed the low number of injuries to the timing of the tornado, with few residents out on the street. As she assisted stricken residents through the morning she encouraged the public to stay at home as motorists causing wake from surface flooding was only adding to the problem. Sign craftsman Jay Dahya was driving through Levin from Wellington to Palmerston North soon after the tornado and couldn’t believe the damage on Cambridge St. It looked like ‘‘a bomb had gone off’’ as houses had been blown apart and debris covered the area. ‘‘I have never seen anything like that, I honestly thought there had been a massive explosion. It was absolutely shocking,’’ Dahya said. City Honda Horowhenua and Stihl Shop Levin manager Wayne McKinlay arrived at work to find carnage outside his Oxford St business. ‘‘The modern front part of the store is fine but the back wall is held back with straps, and ready to fall out. ‘‘It ripped the back walls away from the buildings next door. ‘‘We’re so lucky because if it hadn’t have turned away from us at the last minute, we would’ve had it.’’ His staff were out with chainsaws chopping up the fallen trees at Adventure Park. Craig Jones, foreman at Paul Ireland Digger Hire, had his team working cleanup, with two trucks and a digger/loader clearing Oxford St of debris. ‘‘Our depot was fine and my house was fine but neighbours and a few other people down the road, and a few other people, lost their roof.’’ Many businesses were eager to help out. Mitre 10 provided tarpaulins for free to people with damaged roofs, and Dominos delivered free pizzas to homes without power. A welfare support centre was set up at the Youth Space in Te Takeretangao-kura-hau-pō on Bath St, where staff were working to secure accommodation for those who had been displaced. Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden confirmed 10 homes were left inhabitable and a mayoral relief fund to assist people affected by the tornado had been established. The district council contributed $100,000, and this was matched by the Government. With properties largely secured, Wanden said the focus was now on ensuring people were safe and families were housed. His thoughts were with those who had lost their homes. ‘‘The extent of the damage is still unveiling itself, but what we know is that our community needs help.’’ He put out a call for volunteers to assist with the cleanup, including any contractors with trucks or members of the community with trailers, and meet at 15-23 Durham St in Levin at 9am today, with suitable safety gear and footwear. Anyone who had suffered significant damage to their property, and wanted assistance, could call the council at anytime on 06 366 099. According to Electra, at the peak of the storm 4800 customers lost power in Levin and Ō taki. MetService duty meteorologist Lewis Ferris said Levin experienced a brief and intense event. Today’s forecast is for showers, some heavy in the afternoon with hail possible, then clearing, and strong westerlies.