Defence Force deploying 100 people to clear flood waste before cyclone hits

Friday, 10 February 2023

Help is underway to clear Auckland of the mess from the last severe weather event before Cyclone Gabrielle makes landfall.

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is in the Coral Sea moving southeast and reached 'severe' category 3 status on Friday.

On Friday morning, MetService issued heavy rain watches for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.

But the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has deployed 100 people across Tāmaki Makaurau on Friday to clear flood-damaged waste from berms and roadsides.

* Cyclone Gabrielle could hammer Coromandel with up to 300mm of rain in 24 hours

* Māori and Pasifika communities brace for Cyclone Gabrielle

Defence Force teams help with the Auckland clean up after the flooding.

It has also sent a team to help the Auckland civil defence and emergency management teams with coordinating the emergency response if needed.

Teams have come from the Air Force base in Whenuapai and the Navy in Devonport to help the community wide effort to clean up.

The Domain was completely inundated with water on January 27. (File photo)

Friday’s deployment of 100 people includes 40 Army, 30 Air Force and 30 Navy personnel, and they will continue working over the weekend.

Auckland Emergency Management said with strong winds in store, everything should be tied down or stored away. Spouts and drains should be cleared, and people should check for loose roofing irons or tiles that can be fastened down.

Trees and powerlines could come down, and some 300mm of rain is forecasted for Aotea Great Barrier Island and north Auckland, and 100 to 200mm of rain for the rest of the region.

There will also be dangerous conditions at sea, with heavy swells north of Whangaparoa from Monday into Tuesday.

Maritime NZ said boaties and recreational craft users ought not to go out when the cyclone lands.

General manager Michael-Paul Abbott said if everything went as predicted, “the water, whether inshore or offshore is no place to be”.

He urged people not to be thrill seekers or push ahead with pre-existing plans to be out at sea.

Abbott also cautioned against using kayaks or paddle boards to navigate floodwaters.

“Flooding can hide potential risks for water users such as debris or overwhelmed infrastructure such as culverts.

In Whangarei, businesses sandbagged their entrances. (File photo)

'There have been a number of significant incidents of people out on recreational craft in weather events such as what is forecast, and it is not worth the risk.”

If you have a moored boat and you’re worried about potential damage, check with your local harbourmaster for advice, Abbott said.

There will be sandbag stations open from 8am until 8pm (or until stocks last) in three locations in Auckland over the weekend (February 11 and 12).

St John is preparing should Cyclone Gabrielle make landfall on Monday as predicted.

They are:

East Coast Bays Church, 87 Hastings Road, Mairangi Bay 0630
Glover Park, Glover Road, St Heliers 1071
13-15 Westgate Drive, Westgate 0614

Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty at the Thames Council office, speaking about storm damage to Coromandel roads.

There, you can collect sand and fill bags. You’ll need your own shovel.

Auckland Transport general manager Stacey van der Putten said the cyclone could potentially damage the road and transport networks – just like during the weekend flooding.

This time though, strong winds and possible storm surges, as well as heavy rain, are on the horizon. Debris and fallen trees might litter the roads, causing driving hazards.

Van der Putten said Aucklanders should “seriously consider” whether they need to travel early next week.

Locals should be prepared for road closure, particularly in the Wairau Valley, Tamaki Drive, Fanshawe St around Victoria Park and Fred Thomas Drive.

St John is on high alert and preparing for the cyclone as well, including moving resources into parts of Auckland it expects will be hardest hit.

The agency has back up generators, vehicles and IT support in place in case vital infrastructure is affected.

Meanwhile, the government is urging individuals and whānau to get prepared for the worst case scenario with the time available.

Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty said people should prepare grab bags for themselves and their family members, containing clothes, medication, snacks, water, torches and other essentials.

Power cuts could affect EFTPOS and ATM systems, so it’s worth withdrawing some cash, he said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) said you must have three days worth of water – at least nine litres per person, to go with long-lasting food that doesn’t need cooking.

Don’t keep contaminated, damaged furniture at home, the Insurance Council has said.

Your emergency kit should also include copies of your important documents, a portable phone charger and first aid kit – including water purifiers and hand sanitiser.

Once the storm hits, Auckland Emergency Management have said it’s essential you stay off the roads and avoid being trapped by flooding or fallen power lines or trees.

Do not drive through floodwater, as your car could get swept away or damaged.

“Our biggest request is once the storm begins is to please help us get to the people who need us most,” Emergency Management Deputy Controller Rachel Kelleher said.

“This means only calling 111 if life is at risk – for example if you or others are trapped and need rescue – if there is a fire – if there is a landslide – if you need to evacuate and you can’t get out safely by yourself.”

The Northland district councils met on Friday morning with local emergency services and other partners to begin their Cyclone response.

“We are all working on increasing our resources and ensuring they are strategically placed around the region so we can respond effectively as required,” Northland Civil Defence Controller Graeme MacDonald said.

“Spending that little bit of time now preparing can make a big difference if this system does severely impact Northland.”

Amid the clean up from the Auckland Anniversary flooding, the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) has some advice about how to get the most from your insurance if your home is damaged again, or for the first time.

“If your property was damaged in the last fortnight’s climate event but now has additional damage, be sure to record the new damage and report that to your insurer.”

But in the aftermath of any damage, please don’t keep unsanitary damaged items in your home, ICNZ Chief Executive Tim Grafton said.

Supermarkets are stocking up ahead of the disaster too.

Countdown Managing Director Spencer Sonn said there were hundreds of cartons of essentials on their way to stores so that families could stock up this weekend.

“We’re working closely with our supply partners and have hundreds of trucks on the road with early loads heading to our more isolated stores so they have plenty of stock ahead of the cyclone making landfall, and we’re also prioritising sending extra essentials to all of our upper North Island stores,” he said.

“We’re also proactively working with our community and charity partners to understand what they may need in the coming days and thank our customers for helping us raise $125,000 in stores this week to support flood relief efforts.”