Editorial: Our thoughts with people of the islands

New Zealand may have been left relatively unscathed by Cyclone Pam, but others overseas weren't.

Although we appear to have escaped the worst of Cyclone Pam, it has still had quite an impact on our lives in different ways.

There was much speculation last week and through the weekend about what the cyclone would do to our region.

Everyone tracked it as it swept through the Pacific Islands and then headed our way. What it did to Vanuatu was particularly devastating and this, of course, has an impact here in the Bay because we have many seasonal workers from those islands who will be concerned about families and homes. It must be very stressful being so far from home when something like this happens.

Closer to home, there was a power outage in Esk Valley, some schools were closed in Mahia, the Port of Napier was closed and the full effect of the rain on the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show, which begins today, has still to be established. While the show is certain to go on, we do not want it to be too waterlogged.

Cyclone Pam seems to be drifting away from us but the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management did say last night that Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Chatham Islands were still forecast to experience severe weather conditions until tomorrow.

It is a timely reminder that we should always be prepared for what nature throws at us.

Generally it seems as if there was a heightened awareness out there as people took the warnings and emergency advice seriously. You cannot ignore warnings and on a whole this province didn't.

Hopefully, the only major effect Cyclone Pam will have on Hawke's Bay is that it will well and truly have put any worries of a drought to rest.