Napier Floods: Deluge, second wettest day on record in 150 years

The torrential rain that saturated Napier, turning streets into rivers, is the second wettest day on record in 150 years.

Locals are waking up to the aftermath of yesterday’s flood, which caused people to evacuate and left more than 3,000 homes without power.

Another deluge is forecast as of 3pm this afternoon from Hawke’s Bay north to Coromandel.

More than 600 lightning strikes have already struck the Bay of Plenty coastline as wild weather begins to rage across the region.

Mayor Kirsten Wise declared a state of emergency last night.

Weather experts have called yesterday’s event a “record” and it is now officially the second rainiest day in the city since the records began.

The National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research said yesterday’s downpour was 423 percent of what was normally seen for the entire month of November, in a single day.

At approximately 10pm yesterday, 237mm of rain had been recorded since 9am.

Niwa said the wettest hour on record, since 1995, is 54mm.

More than 3,000 homes without electricity

Thousands of people in the area have been without power since last night.

Authorities said more than 3,300 people were left in the dark after yesterday’s major storm flooded Napier.

A statement from the Unison lines company said that as many as 3,370 customers around Napier were without power at around 10.15pm yesterday.

Unison spokesman Danny Gough said conditions were too harsh for crews to continue working through the night.

“Heavy rains and widespread flooding throughout the day, combined with darkness, have made conditions too unsafe for our equipment to continue operating.

“The safety of the public and our crews is paramount and therefore we have made the decision to suspend our crews until dawn.”

He thanked the public for their patience and said that all available resources were on standby to begin repairs this morning, weather permitting and on the condition that the floodwaters subside.

“Our teams will continue to attend to any emergency situation if necessary,” he said.

“We are also aware of our medically energy-dependent customers, so we urge them to make alternative arrangements and contact their medical providers for advice.”

Schools closed

Local schools tell parents to keep children home today, as staff also work to assess their respective school grounds.

Several schools have already issued notices through Facebook. Those closed include Porritt School, Tamatea Primary, Tamatea Intermediate, Fairhaven School, and Tamatea High.

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defense is working with emergency services again this morning.

A toll-free number has been established for anyone in need of social assistance, including food and clothing.

Those who have been displaced by the floods are also urged to contact 0800 422 923.

During power outages, Unison regularly advises the following safety precautions:

• Check for downed or damaged power lines. Never touch cables or lines that are on the ground, hanging from poles, or objects such as tree branches that may be touching them. Downed lines or cables can continue to carry electrical current and could cause electric shock, injury, or even death if touched. Unison urges anyone who sees a downed power line to call 0800 2 UNISON.

• Turn off the power at the main switch if you suspect electrical damage to your home. If the power is cut off, turn off all electrical appliances to avoid possible damage from a power surge when power is restored.

• Remember that if the power grid is damaged it may take some time to reconnect, so make sure you have a battery-operated radio, flashlight, spare batteries, and a full gas bottle for your barbecue as part of your kit of emergency. .

• Medically dependent customers are encouraged to prepare for the probability of power outage and to make alternative arrangements in advance.