Last line of defence - sandbags

The final defence against flooding is sandbags - and Whangarei retailers and homeowners were stacking them up by the hundreds yesterday.
As people braced for the worst, the heavy brown sacks appeared at the doorways and drives of Whangarei properties.
Businesses in Rathbone St, flooded by Saturday's deluge, were last night fortified against rising waters. Fulton Hogan maintenance manager Steven Bell said a team of seven filled about 1500 sand bags at the Hewlett St base and the bags had been rolling out quickly.
"The phone calls started on Saturday with people wanting sandbags to hold back the water. They've been rolling out the gates all day today with people taking note of the weather forecasts," Mr Bell said. "At least people are preparing and not leaving it to the last moment."
One business owner who did not want flood waters seeping underneath the doors was Noelene Dean, of Dean Realty in Rathbone St.
"We had some water come in over the weekend, this time we are being a lot more careful."
Jack Bourke, an information technology engineer with Gen-I, made two trips for sandbags for the James St office.
Volunteers from the Ngunguru Fire Brigade were keen to protect their homes from potential flooding.
Station manager John Moore and fire truck driver Rex Birch loaded up their van with sandbags for the flood protection task.
"I'm dreading what's coming," Mr Moore said.
Whangarei Heads resident Pam Murrell was keen to put the bags across her driveway to stop the overflow of water from a drain that usually blocked in heavy rain.