Civil Defence minister Kris Faafoi visits the Coromandel township of Te Puru after last weeks huge storm. / Video by Alan Gibson
Roly Carey, 78, relies on a machine to help him breath.
When power was cut eight hours after the king tide flooded the Thames Coast Rd, the Te Puru resident had to set about making other plans.
Wife, Jeannette Carey her husband, Roly, relied on a machine to help himbreath at night due to his motor neurone disease.
After ringing Powerco, she said she was told the directive came from Civil Defence. It meant a scramble to reorganise themselves but fortunately they were able to stay with their son who lived down the road.
The Carey's Seaview Ave property escaped any damage as despite the water reaching their street - about 200m from the beach - it only got as far as their letterbox.
Te Puru residents Roly and Jeanette Carey had to move in with their son after the storm after the power was abruptly cut, leaving Roly unable to use his machine for breathing. Photo/Alan Gibson
She said they could only watch the waves which began getting bigger, the water rising and creeping closer to their near seafront house.
Sarjants Rd resident Pippa Harry wasn't so lucky. Her house is currently the only one deemed uninhabitable by Thames District Council inspectors after a torrent of sea water, mixed with sewage, spewed through her house.
"The waves were massive. Even at 8.30am the water was at road level and high tide was at 10.30am.
"The water just came over the sea wall and went all the way up [Aputa] street."
Te Puru resident Pippa Harry remains optimistic despite being made homeless after last week's storm which ravaged the Thames Coast Rd. Photo/Alan Gibson
By 10.10am her street was covered in water, and just five minutes later it was up to her knees.
At 10.30am it began entering her house.
She was currently staying with friends.
She said while she wasn't scared by the event, she was surprised at how quickly it happened.
"It wasn't scary, it was just more ... it's happening and it's happening really fast. The adrenaline is pumping but everyone was amazing.
"The offers of help and meals and accommodation and support and the (local) fire service, the skips in the street to get rid of rubbish, it all happened really fast."
The Thames Coast Rd is due to reopen today , a mammoth feat by NZ Transport Agency crews who have been working around the clock.
NZTA East Waikato contract manager Russell Troup said staff had been working from "dawn till dusk" to do the repairs, with fatigue management a key priority as they rotated staff to keep them fresh for the work ahead.
The damage to the foreshore at Te Puru on Thames Coast Rd after last week's storm. Photo/Alan Gibson
About 60 Te Puru residents turned out to the community hall for a visit of Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi this morning, many who raised concerns about the lack of communication and the abrupt power cut.
Most locals agreed that the recovery phase of the disaster had been good, but it was during the actual crisis where they were left dealing with conflicting reports and helping stranded tourists.
"The warnings were inaccurate or nonexistent," one resident said in the public meeting. "Powerco need a rocket for turning off the power unnecessarily eight hours after the event."
Another said the council needed to look at ways of future-proofing the communities along the coast road.
Thames-Coromandel Mayor Sandra Goudie said she would get her communications team to look into the concerns from residents and said the feedback would form part of their review.
Te Puru residents listen on as Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi addresses the crowd. Photo/Alan Gibson
When asked about the criticisms from locals, Faafoi said he was pleased with how the service responded.
However, the feedback would form part of the review into Civil Defence which was currently underway.
"I hear some of the frustrations. When these events happen they're movable feasts but I know the team that's worked to respond have given up their own time and done the best that they can.
"Given what I saw on the internet about the state of the road (and now) today and the fact that it is ready to go ... it's pretty good and hats off to those guys."
Troup said his NZTA crew had identified 29 repair sites in the 42km stretch affected along Thames Coast Rd between Manaia and Tararu, with a 2.4km section encompassing Te Puru the worst affected.
He said staff hit the road straight away, as the waves continued to swamp the road and properties, an unprecedented sight for him and his crew.
The force was so intense the waves picked up a rock wall and tossed it on to the road with ease.
