By staff reporters and RNZ
Residents in the upper North Island are being urged to prepare as another cyclone heading towards Aotearoa is likely to bring more torrential rain to the region.
MetService said the path of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle was uncertain at this stage, but the severe weather was likely to start on Sunday and go through until Tuesday.
Auckland Emergency Management encouraged people to prepare and offered some advice on what to do.
First, they recommended to stay up to date with the latest weather warnings. As well as latest updates from the NZ Herald, the Met Service website also has latest warnings and forecasts.
Create a grab bag with essential items ready to go and make a household plan, that includes your pets, in case you need to evacuate.
Be prepared for possible power outages and check emergency supplies. In a storm you could be stuck at home for up to three days so make sure you have enough food and water, as well as torches and batteries in the event of a power cut. Also make sure you have enough medication for at least a week.
Around your home and street, clear debris and leaves from drains and gutters to help prevent surface flooding.
As strong winds are forecast, make sure to secure items like wheelie bins, trampolines, outdoor furniture, boats and trailers. Bring items inside or tie anything down that could move in windy conditions.
AEM also recommends checking in on friends, whānau, neighbours and anyone who might need help, especially those who have already been affected by recent flooding.
Auckland and Thames-Coromandel on Thursday extended their state of emergency status for another seven days due to risks from the tropical cyclone.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said he was satisfied an emergency still exists in the region.
“My decision reflects the seriousness of the current and potential situation and our response,” Brown said.
“After what Aucklanders have experienced since Friday 27 January, and with our region waterlogged, it will be a very serious situation if the current weather forecasts eventuate.”
Thames-Coromandel District Mayor Len Salt said the key to dealing with the event was being prepared and people’s safety was the number one focus.
“The reality of the five weeks is that we’ve been dealing with a number of events, so our coastlines are vulnerable, our hills and catchment areas have taken a hammering.”
✈️🚛🤝NZ Air Force and our Auckland Waste Management teams are working together across Tāmaki Makaurau to remove flood-damaged items from our streets.
— Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) (@AucklandCDEM) February 9, 2023
Ka mau te wehi and thank you to our rear loaders! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/avyZmkXcxq
If the storm tracks as MetService forecasted the region would be hit with storm surges and emergency crews were preparing for that, he said.
“I have signed an extension to the declaration of emergency this morning, which extends it for another ... seven days, that is specifically to have us deal, or to have us prepared for this event that’s coming through next Monday, Tuesday.”
Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo expected a clearer idea of how the storm would affect the region by Friday afternoon.
“It’s early days at the present moment to see where things are going.
“But the big thing for most people in Northland is we’ve just got to make sure we’ve all the basics covered.”
In coastal areas of Northland, where the high tides on Sunday and Monday are about 1am and 1pm, people in known flooding areas should be prepared for a tidal surge at the same time as a storm.
Cocurullo urged people to keep checking MetService and Northland Civil Defence’s Facebook page, or phone council contact lines if they needed information.
He also recommended residents and council workers try to keep drains clear.
“If you’ve got blocked drains, that’s when you get a flooding issue.”
People should be prepared for the electricity supply to fluctuate too, he said.
Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is intensifying in the Coral Sea...
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) February 8, 2023
This animation shows future track possibilities (🟡), many of which have a landfall in the North Island on Monday or Tuesday.
❗️ Should this occur, very heavy rain, damaging winds & dangerous seas would be expected. pic.twitter.com/6Dda7U1csu
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said while he hoped for the best, he too urged everyone to be prepared and clear drains, berms, and rubbish to prevent flooding and potential health risks.
Brown said many communities were already in challenging situations due to the previous flood and the council was prioritising those in need and at the greatest risk.
“Please keep informed through MetService, through Auckland Emergency Management, through the formal media briefings we are running, and through the media itself,” Brown said. “If life is at risk, call 111 immediately. For other assistance, call 0800 22 22 00.”
Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson told Midday Report the council had a plan but Aucklanders also needed to ensure they had a personal plan.
“If the cyclone strikes you and you think your house may not withstand that storm, please let people know where you are going.”
Asked if the council was more prepared than during the previous Auckland flood, Simpson said she was looking forward rather than back.
“I will say I feel far more confident that our team is ready for what is coming this time, definitely.”
She also reiterated the need to quickly clear any rubbish from the previous flooding, saying the big Auckland clean-up had become much more urgent.
“It’s very clear that we have to get this kerb-side rubbish away before the next storm.”
She asked those who had a trailer and were able to help with the clean-up to call the 0800 number and offer their assistance.
MetService advised people in the likely affected areas to use the National Emergency Management Agency’s Get Ready website to see what they could do to prepare their houses ahead of the severe weather which was likely from Sunday through to Tuesday.
The website offers general advice for preparing for an emergency including reviewing insurance cover for home and contents, which can be crucial if you suffer damage in a disaster.
Find out from your local council if your home or business is at risk from flooding and how they will alert you if you need to evacuate. Check out any advice about:
Practise your emergency plan and your evacuation route to higher ground.
Prepare your property for high winds. Strong winds can lift large, heavy objects and send them crashing into homes. Anything not secured may become a projectile.
Inspect and trim trees and shrubbery. Strong winds frequently break weak tree limbs and throw them at great speed. They can cause damage and injury.
🌀#DevelopingNews: ⚠️Direct hit from #CycloneGabrielle looking more likely & “extremely concerning” (+11 Maps) https://t.co/mdsZAdn4LB via @weatherwatchnz
— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) February 8, 2023
Work out what supplies you might need and make a plan. Have materials and tools ready to repair windows, such as tarpaulins, boards and duct tape.
Identify a safe place in your home to gather during a thunderstorm. This should be a place where there are no windows, skylights, or glass doors. These could break in strong winds or hail and cause damage or injury.
Secure boats and keep off the water.
Ensure emergency supplies of food and water, an emergency kit with items such as torches and a first aid kit are available.
Know which paddocks are safe if you have livestock. To prevent risks from lightning, move livestock away from:
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