About 30 homes in Milton remain unoccupied as residents continue cleaning up after floodwaters inundated the small south Otago town.
Clutha District Council lifted a civil defence state of emergency yesterday morning as floods started subsiding from 90mm of rain that inundated the district on Monday.
But the
council today warned Milton residents to stay away from flood-affected areas as council staff and Civil Defence officials assessed water damage in the township.
Council communications co-ordinator Jamie Shaw said some health issues had arisen because of sewage contamination. People were urged to wash their hands thoroughly if they handled anything that had been in contact with floodwaters.
If sewage was visible inside houses, owners should seek council advice on how to handle it because it was likely to have contaminated the building.
Lime, which would help sanitise and deodorise contaminated areas, was available free from the council.
People still with water in or under their houses should contact the council's Milton service centre for advice on how to clean their properties. The Fire Service was assisting in pumping out flooded buildings.
Mr Shaw said about 30 homes were still unoccupied after residents evacuated them at the height of the flooding. The council also wanted to make contact with people who "self-evacuated" their properties.
Mr Shaw said council staff had found accommodation for those in immediate need, but anyone who could offer a place for temporarily homeless people should contact the service centre. No injuries had been reported.
Motorists in the district were advised to take "extreme care" as many roads were scoured, with potholes and debris added dangers.
Some roads in the area were still closed.
- NZPA
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