Contractors clear a fallen tree between Fordell and Kauangāroa. Photo / Whanganui District Council
A “huge clean-up” is underway after high winds and heavy rain battered the region overnight on Sunday, cutting power, closing roads and bringing down trees.
The storm hit on Sunday evening, easing around midday on Monday.
As of Monday afternoon, State Highway 4 Parapara Rd was closed due to fallen trees and flooding.
SH1 between Hunterville and Taihape and SH3 between Makirikiri Rd and Pukepapa Rd were also closed due to fallen trees.
Meanwhile, farmers worked to clear a slip on Turakina Valley Rd after 20 cars were hemmed in by a mudslide.
Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson said the vehicles were using it as a detour route around the closed SH1 when they ran into difficulty.
“[It looks as though] they decided to self-navigate using minor back roads, but in an area where communication is very difficult with cell phone technology and a difficult roading area.”
A New Zealand Defence Force NH-90 was dispatched to the area where people and vehicles were stuck, but was later stood down after the slip was cleared.
“We have got road crews out there trying to find the way that they got in there through minor roads, and blocking roads wherever we can to stop this sort of thing happening,” Watson said.
He said local roads often did not show up on the NZTA Journey Planner as closed.
“So [people] try and self-navigate to beat the state highway system, if you like. And that in itself, without the local knowledge that’s needed, causes an issue.”
Power outages
Power was cut to nearly 8000 properties in Whanganui and Rangitīkei early on Monday.
Extra Powerco crews were brought into the region to assist in restoring power and by early afternoon 2000 had been reconnected.
The wind caused an outage at the Fordell water treatment plant with residents asked to conserve water where possible until power is restored and operations resume.
“We are working with Taumata Arowai (the water regulator) and also have a backup plan for generators in case power isn’t restored soon,” Whanganui District Council said.
“We will also be able to move safe drinking water from the Westmere reservoir if needed, once road conditions improve.”
State of emergency
A pre-emptive State of Emergency was declared for the Manawatū-Whanganui region on Sunday evening with a heavy rain warning in place for the region until 3pm on Monday.
A Whanganui emergency operation centre was staffed throughout Sunday night.
Controller Catherine Dutton said Red Cross and emergency management staff were in contact with residents in Kauangāroa and Mangamāhu on Sunday to ensure they were prepared for possible evacuation.
”Fortunately, we are now seeing the rain easing and river levels dropping," she said.
“Currently, we have multiple trees down across the district and contractors have been prioritising removal of these throughout the night.”
Conserve water
Residents of Taihape, Mangaweka, Hunterville, Rātana and Fordell have been asked to conserve water until further notice.
The storms have caused power issues at these plants.
Parks closed
Whanganui’s Rotokawau Virginia Lake, Kowhai Park and Bason Botanic Gardens were closed due to high winds.
“Inspections will take place once the windfall danger is past,” Whanganui District Council said.
Heavy rain
MetService meteorologist John Law said Whanganui city had about 54mm of rainfall recorded at Whanganui airport overnight Sunday.
Inland regions of the Whanganui district had up to 85mm of rainfall, the heaviest recorded in Kauangaroa.
The strongest wind was recorded at Whanganui Airport on Monday morning at 111km/h.
Whanganui Civil Defence emergency manager Tim Crowe said he had been busy overnight on Sunday.
“We are expecting it to ramp up now that daylight is here, and people can see different damages around the place,” he said on Monday morning.
“Most of the reports we’re getting are about fallen trees.
“Tree contractors have been busy all night with different bits and pieces.
Crowe said at this stage, he was not concerned about the Whanganui River level; “it’s pretty much normal”.
“Rivers out to our east have got a bit of water going into them, but we’re not expecting to have issues there at this stage.
“But there are still likely to be places with a bit of ponding and flooding in low-lying areas. We are going out to have a look at those shortly.”
He said the public should report fallen trees to Civil Defence or Whanganui District Council.
Assessing damage
Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson said rainfall in the district had not been as heavy as predicted.
“River levels look as though we will get by, but there are some we absolutely are keeping an eye on,” he said.
“The principal damage is loss of power throughout the district, with a huge number of trees, including one at our place, across power lines.
“There is going to be a huge clean-up.”
Rangitīkei District Council crews were assessing the impact of the storm, particularly damage to the roading network, and from fallen trees and debris.
It said most schools across the district were closed on Monday and advised people to avoid unnecessary travel.