The number of Westport residents being told to evacuate immediately is rising as more heavy rain hammers the West Coast town.
Buller district mayor Jamie Cleine announced at 11am partial evacuations for areas of Westport that are at risk from flooding, as a severe rainstorm is set to hit the West Coast today.
The decision had been made to safeguard lives, he said, and based on the "best available information" about the risk of high rainfall and high tides, combined with the experience of previous floods.
A complete town evacuation would not be ruled out either, the mayor said.
Another announcement is likely after 3pm.
"People should leave as soon as possible."
He said people should be prepared to be away from home for up to three days.
They should take a grab bag of clothes, essential medicines, and personal documents. People with pets should also take their animals.
"We advise people to go to friends or relatives on high ground if at all possible," Cleine said.
"Heartbroken" evacuee Linda Evans was distressed to be leaving her home this afternoon, which still hasn't been completely refurbished since it was damaged in last July's flooding.
"It was a Christmas present to come home," she says. "And now it will go again."
A "very basic" evacuation facility at the former Holcim cement plant at Cape Foulwind Rd, just out of Westport, will provide food and shelter for people with no other option. They should take sleeping bags or bedding and be prepared to sleep in their vehicles, he said.
There is significant potential for a flooding event tonight or tomorrow morning.
Cleine didn't know exactly how many properties would be affected at this stage.
Compulsory evacuation orders initially covered Snodgrass Rd, Coates St, Derby St and the area between Cobden St and the beach, Roebuck St, Menzies St, Marrs Beach area, Martins Creek, Kawatiri Pl and Colvin St.
At 2pm, it was extended to residents of Golf Links Rd, Marine Rd, Rotary Rd, Schadick Rd, Tiphead Rd, SH67A, Brunings Rd, and Keoghans Rd, as well as all roads south of Disraeli and Stephen to Kehua, and all streets south of Craddock to Cobden, Orowaiti, Brougham and Snodgrass. It also covers the area bordered by Wakefield-Derby-Mill-Domett-Eastons-Kew-Kawatiri.
A detailed map is found at www.westcoastemergency.govt.nz or on Buller District Council's website.
It is not predicted that the town will be cut off at this stage.
An emergency text alert sounded off during the press conference.
Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, Land Search and Rescue and volunteers are conducting a door-to-door operation today to implement the mandatory evacuations.
Local Jim McKinlay packed up his car today after being told he needed to evacuate.
He hoped that his property avoids getting flooded like last July when he "lost everything".
"I'd like to have been able to stay here a bit longer but when they say they're going to do something, you'd better do it," he said.
"We got prepared yesterday but we didn't think we'd have to leave until later this afternoon."
He had booked a motel and was taking his dog with him.
Heavy rain has slowly moved up the West Coast of the South Island over the past few days, causing surface flooding, slips, closing roads and schools, and knocking out power and phone lines.
The Army has been scrambled to help, while an NZDF NH90 Air Force helicopter was scheduled to fly into Westport this morning to help with getting supplies to cut-off communities. Locals with helicopters are also understood to be on standby.
Work to clear away a large slip blocking the Seddonville settlement wasn't possible during the night. This morning Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency says crews are working in continual rain trying to move heavy soil.
But Buller district controller Chris Hawker this morning said Emergency Management hadn't received any more major reports, other than surface flooding.
Red warnings remain in place for parts of Westland and Buller as the second phase of the rain hits.
"For Buller until 1am Saturday, extended periods of heavy rain will continue. Expect 250 to 350mm of rain to accumulate about the ranges on top of what has already fallen, and 120 to 220mm near the coast. Peak rates of 20 to 30mm/h about the ranges are anticipated," Westland District Council said.
🌧🌧 Extreme rainfall continues to affect the West Coast
— MetService (@MetService) February 3, 2022
Warning info at https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 will be updated at around 10am
📡 Rainfall over Buller and Tasman isn't as well represented towards the end of this radar video due to attenuation of the radar beam by heavy rain. pic.twitter.com/lTXwVzUpQO
"For Westland to Midnight Friday expect another 150 to 250mm of rain to accumulate near the ranges about and north of Fox Glacier, and 80 to 120mm near the coast. Peak intensities of 20 to 30mm about the ranges are anticipated.
Te Aroha Cook, West Coast group controller, said there was still a significant amount of rain to fall in this event.
Council workers and locals have been out sandbagging and preparing for the worst, amid fears of another major flood like the one that devastated the town last winter.
Yesterday, authorities asked residents to self-evacuate if they could easily do so to friends and family outside of Westport.
Police say they will be running 24/7 patrols of evacuated properties.
"Self-evacuation is encouraged for those who experienced flooding in July last year as a precaution," local controller Bob Dickson said yesterday.
"The coast road and the Buller Gorge are open, so moving east and south out of town are still safe options. The forecast is showing significant rain for northern Buller, so residents should avoid travelling north."
MetService extended the timing of the red warnings for heavy rain in Buller and Westland as an "atmospheric river" of warm and moist air continues to bring heavy rain to the West Coast.
Meteorologist Andrew James said there had already been significant rainfall in the region.
"This weather system brought 123mm to Westport airport in the 24 hours to 9am Thursday, the wettest February day there since records began in 1944," he said.
"The severe weather is still ongoing for some areas and people in these areas need to remain alert and keep up to date with the forecasts."
Westland District's Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) remains operational today. MetService has lowered the heavy rain warning to orange for Westland south of Otira.
Peak intensities are expected about the ranges on Friday morning.
"EOC staff in coordination with the WCRC have been checking the river levels and Waiho, Whataroa and Wanganui River are currently fine," local controller Simon Bastion said.
"We are aware that the capacity in the headwaters of the Hokitika is rising and we will be keeping a watch on this throughout the day.
"Based on the current conditions and discussions with the MetService, we do not predict any significant flooding in low-lying areas. There may be intermittent surface flooding dependent on isolated rainfall intensity.
Our advice to business owners and residents remains the same, if they feel unsafe, please make plans to evacuate to higher ground."
The Country's Rowena Duncum told Gold AM six weeks without rain on the coast equated to about 18 weeks for the rest of the country.
She said it was positive the dry spell had broken, but there were big concerns for Westport.
Duncum said they were still considering mass evacuations in the coming days - and if there was a lot of flooding, this would be the second time in six months.
At its peak, 20 fire engines were on-site battling the blaze.