State of emergency declared in Napier due to floods causing landslides, evacuations and power outages

A local state of emergency has been declared in Napier as widespread flooding leads to landslides, power outages and evacuations.

It came as emergency services were flooded with calls for help and heavy rains continued to hit the region.

More than 3,300 homes faced a night without power as the Unison Power Company said crews were forced to stop work due to safety concerns as of Tuesday morning.

Just before 11 p.m., Civil Defense said police had evacuated one side of Havelock Road in Napier Hill. He was aware of slips on at least five highways. At least 14 roads and streets were also closed.

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Several schools also announced that they would not open Tuesday, including Tamatea Primary, Porritt Primary, Tamatea Intermediate, Tamatea High and Fairhaven classes at these schools.

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defense announced the emergency just before 10 p.m. and asked people to shelter in their homes and avoid driving when possible.

An evacuation center was set up in Kennedy Park on Storkey St in Marewa for Napier residents who were unable to stay at home or with others. Civil Defense asked that people only go there as a last resort.

“If you feel unsafe at home, first evacuate your family and friends. If you need urgent help because you are in danger, call 111 “.

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

“Rest assured that we have all available resources on standby to begin repairs on Tuesday morning, weather permitting and flooding subsides. Our teams will continue to attend to any emergency situation if necessary. “

Fire and Emergency NZ said that some elderly residents had been removed from their homes to stay with relatives due to flooding and leaking roofs.

The Hawkes Bay Urban Search and Rescue team also faced a series of landslides caused by heavy rains.

A shed fell in a slip, prompting the evacuation of at least seven homes at risk on Havelock Terrace in Napier Hill.

Unconfirmed reports from social media indicated that the houses were evacuated after the nearby shed “had collapsed down a slope.”

McGregor Ave resident Carrie Smith said she had no power, her home was flooded and there were cars floating in the street.

No one had come to give her any information and Smith said she was concerned about her elderly neighbors who “weren’t sure what to do and were quite upset.”

Her five-year-old daughter was also concerned because she thought her bed would float away, Smith said.

“Our greenhouse is full of thorns [in water] leading up to our house, both the shed and our cars in the driveway are flooded, almost halfway up the door.

“We are about 10 cm away from the water that enters the main part of the house.”

Smith said two neighbors had been evacuated due to the flooding. “Our neighbors have abandoned their residence, one due to substantial flooding today and the other about three hours ago due to flooding. His son-in-law came to pick them up and his ute was flooded in the process. “

MetService warned that the Hawke’s Bay region could expect another 30-70mm of rain. At least 77mm fell on Napier in 24 hours, with 23mm of that between 5pm and 6pm Monday.

Fenz teams were working with Napier City Council building inspectors to assess landslides and any significant safety issues and make recommendations to occupants on whether they should evacuate.

Previously, Fire and Emergency New Zealand received a report of a 75-year-old woman trapped in her flooded home on Lighthouse Rd, Bluff Hill.

There have been numerous reports of people trapped or in need of urgent assistance to evacuate flooded houses.

This included a family trapped in their home and a tree that had fallen onto another home, both after a landslide.

The Hawke’s Bay District Board of Health issued a warning that floodwaters could carry disease-causing insects to the surface of the soil and sewer systems.

Health Medical Officer Nick Jones said people should not eat any food that has come in contact with flood waters.

“Children should stay away from floods and from playing in puddles, which may have been contaminated by the sewers.”

On social media, the Napier City Council said it was receiving “constant reports” of flooded roads and advised against any non-essential travel.

“We will not be able to continue reporting on individual roads as resources are diverted to manage the situation.”

Those using the roads should be careful, as some manhole covers may have lifted and there may be other hazards that are not visible, they said.

The Hawkes Bay Civil Defense asked people on social media not to mock.

“People driving unnecessarily around Napier make the situation more difficult for everyone. Driving through flood water creates bow ripples, which carry the water into the houses. “

Earlier, Hawke’s Bay firefighters were called into a slip on a Bluff Hill property in Napier, resulting in a tree falling on a caravan.

Other areas with heavy surface flooding in Napier included Latham St, Nuffield Ave, Kennedy Rd, and Barker Rd.

The Napier City Council said the amount of rain was affecting the city’s sewage network.

“To avoid an emergency discharge from the grid in the Ahuriri estuary, the Napier City Council requests that the community flush toilets only when necessary and avoid the use of showers, dishwashers or washing machines if possible.”