Winds gusting up to nearly 100km/h tore the roofs off two Waihi Beach homes as wild weather caused havoc around the Western Bay yesterday.
Thousands of residents throughout the region were without power when winds or trees brought down power lines.
But it was Louisa Duckmanton's home in Seaforth Rd, Waihi Beach, that suffered the heaviest damage. She was woken by a loud bang at about 4am.
Mrs Duckmanton, who has lived in the house for about 30 years, looked out and was shocked to see the deck railings had blown off. But much worst was to come when she saw "all this pink stuff". It was roof insulation and then she spotted the roof itself, dumped in a neighbour's paddock.
The winds had torn off about 90 per cent of her roof. With no power and a faulty cellphone, she had to brave the elements and wake her neighbours who called the Waihi Beach Volunteer Fire Brigade.