Flooding forces out dozens
Dozens of Hamilton residents were evacuated from 10 homes after flash flooding yesterday and up to five homes are deemed uninhabitable. Houses in Dinsdale were swamped and cars struggled to get through after an afternoon downpour caused the flooding in the city’s west and north.
Civil Defence declared up to five homes on or near Whatawhata Rd uninhabitable due to contamination from a sewage supply.
Hamilton fire senior station officer Bruce MacGregor said 24 residents were evacuated from 10 affected homes and fire crews helped remove water from the damaged properties.
MacGregor said it appeared the stormwater system was unable to cope with the deluge.
Whatawhata Rd resident Peter Cague has lived in his house since 1983 and said it was the first time he’s had to be evacuated. His son, Scott Cague, 35, was with his partner in the ground-level garage, where he lives, when the rain got so loud they couldn’t hear their sound system.
Water started seeping, then pouring into the garage, Scott said. Within about 15 minutes it was knee deep and nearly into the main house.
Another resident further along said they could see water rushing into driveways and the damage looked a lot worse than first thought. “An elderly lady who we saw on the street said she had lived here for 30 years and had never seen anything like it.”
Resident Mike Auton said the flooding happened fast. “I tried to clear the drains with my feet but just couldn’t in time. I just got into action and started checking in on the neighbours and getting them out.
“The houses are quite damaged with low water, just up over the bottom of the floor. Looks like there is a car that has been lost as well.”
Some residents were unable to access their homes because the roads were blocked off after the flooding.
Videos on social media show the water as high as cars’ bonnets.
MetService shift meteorologist Tui McInnes said severe thunderstorms also hit the Hutt Valley, northern Manawatu, Whanganui, Taranaki and Ruapehu yesterday.
More are possible today with a warning of heavy rain from South Auckland to Waikato and Bay of Plenty east of Whakatane, and Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay until 6pm.