Hundreds still homeless after floods

1.00pm

Two months after February's floods, 600 people have yet to return home and 300 houses may be uninhabitable for another 12 months.

Another dozen homes have been condemned and those that have not dried out properly were unlikely to be ready for remedial work until after winter, Manawatu-Wanganui regional council, Horizons, group recovery manager Mark Harrison said.

"Some people will still be dislocated from their homes for many months to come. And as well as the 1000 people directly affected, many more have had their livelihoods affected, and those issues are becoming more apparent now."

Mr Harrison said people staying with friends and relatives could be starting to feel the strain and should ask for help as emergency housing could be arranged.

Although many of the immediate effects had been dealt with, it would take months or even years to recover and repair tens of millions of dollars' worth of damage.

Some were only coming forward now asking for help for the first time, he said.

"We don't know when we will be finished. There will be people suffering for years to come.

"The challenge now is to have plans in place to ensure that, if anyone who needs help in the future, help will be there and available."

No-one had died, despite flooding across seven districts and a population of 250,000, and management of the disaster could be considered successful.

"That's more than just good luck."

The Red Cross was closing its warehouse and donated gear would be stored by district councils until needed.

H owever, people could still donate money as it could be targeted and spent locally to support local business, he said.

Throughout the Manawatu District, 80 families were still out of their homes. Forty damaged flats for elderly and disabled residents remained empty, with a shortage of tradespeople delaying repairs.

"We think the residents will be back in by the end of May," project manager David Forrest said.

"We would like to think we could do it sooner, but that's realistic."

Recent cold weather had been driving flood victims in search of warm clothes and bedding from the racecourse welfare centre at Manfeild.

"There are people living upstairs in two-storey homes and it's getting really draughty. And people are reaching for warmer clothes, and realising they don't have any," Manawatu District Council welfare manager Donna Davey said.

"A lot of people have no idea what they are going to need, until they find it's not there. We try to give them more than the basics. It's really heartening when someone comes in who is expecting very little, and we can give them a bit extra. It's here, and that's what it's for. People are just amazed at other people's generosity."

- NZPA