The Bay Chronicle

Cyclone – by the numbers

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The recovery and cleanup from Cyclone Gabrielle is ongoing in Northland – the first region in the country to be hit by the devastatio­n.

The cyclone caused widespread flooding, slips and tree damage throughout the region, leading to evacuation­s and dramatic rescues through floodwater­s.

There were no lives lost in Te Tai Tokerau because of the cyclone. However, power cuts, communicat­ions and roading access continue to be issues for hundreds of residents.

Here is a breakdown of the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery numbers for Northland, showing the extent of the damage.

1497

This is the number of homes and business still without power on Wednesday.

Northpower, which covers Whangārei and Kaipara districts, says 340 customers are impacted by high-voltage faults and about 1000 have power cuts due to low voltage or localised issues.

Top Energy has 157 customers without power in the Far North, most with faults on their private service lines. Most of these customers are also without mobile phones or wi-fi.

10

The number of days many houses and farms have been without power.

Far North mayor Moko Tepania says for rural communitie­s, this means no running water for this amount of time, as their rainwater tanks are usually pumped by electric pumps.

Many have lost freezer-loads of food, which are usually stocked because of the distance to the supermarke­t.

Kaipara mayor Craig Jepson says without power to milk their cows, many dairy farmers have had to dry off their stock, losing their main source of income.

ZERO

The number of people in Northland missing or unaccounte­d for, according to Northland police.

All those reported uncontacta­ble in Northland have now been reached, police confirmed on Tuesday.

17

The number of roads closed across Te Tai Tokerau.

This includes State Highway 1 at Brynderwyn Hills, south of Whangārei, and the ongoing closure of SH1 at Mangamuka Gorge, south of Kaitāia.

In Whangārei, there are nine local roads still closed by slips.

A further 76 slips and fallen trees are impacting local roads across the district but they are passable with caution.

In the Far North, there are two local roads still closed and a further 11 either down to one lane or still impacted by slips.

CONTINUED Page 8

In Kaipara, four local roads are still closed and there are a further 48 issues, such as slips, which still need to be fixed.

The number of Northland buildings given a red sticker by the local council, meaning they cannot be entered.

In Whangārei, three homes have been red-stickered and 14 have received yellow stickers, which means entry is restricted. A further nine are awaiting assessment.

In Kaipara, four homes have been redsticker­ed and nine have been yellow stickered, although a Kaipara District Council spokespers­on says this number is constantly changing.

The Far North District Council redsticker­ed one property in the Bay of Islands.

9600

The numbers of Northlande­rs who have received Civil Defence payments from Work and Income, after being affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

A spokespers­on said on Tuesday that $4,196,880 had been paid to people in the region, with the payments helping cover the cost of food, bedding, clothing, accommodat­ion or loss of income.

Those in need can find out more about the payment online or phone 0800 400 100.

10.9

The largest wave, in metres, recorded at the height of the cyclone in the Bay of Islands.

Several other weather records were also measured throughout Te Tai Tokerau.

A total of 408.7mm of rain was recorded at Glenbervie Forest in Whangārei, while the fastest wind gust was 141kph, recorded at Cape Reinga.

$500,000

The amount of money announced by central government on Tuesday for Northland mayoral relief funds.

Newly appointed Northland Cyclone Recovery Minister Kelvin Davis says the funding will be just the beginning of central government support.

Far North mayor Moko Tepania says people will be able to apply to the fund to cover whatever they need, such as uninsured property or business losses.

 ?? MONIQUE EDWARDS ?? The largest wave recorded in the Bay of Islands at the height of the cyclone was 10.9 metres.
MONIQUE EDWARDS The largest wave recorded in the Bay of Islands at the height of the cyclone was 10.9 metres.

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