Update on tornado damage
9.40am, 7 December 2012
Update on tornado damage in Whenuapai, Hobsonville and other parts of Auckland
Auckland Council Civil Defence’s
immediate priority this morning is to finalise property
inspections, identify any that are structurally damaged, and
ensure owners/tenants are looked after and communicated
with.
Today’s update:
BUILDING
INSPECTIONS
• Yesterday 18 teams of building
inspectors undertook 241 building assessments.
• Significant roofing damage was noted.
• Inspections will continue with building assessments
today including 40 properties in Totara Rd and Clark Rd.
• Overall it is expected that a relatively small
number of buildings will be found to be structurally
unsafe.
STORMWATER
Auckland Council’s
stormwater team are continuing to follow up calls from the
public.
ELECTRICITY
• Vector restored
700 customers overnight, leaving 635 without power.
• Locations without power are predominantly in the
Scott Rd, Clark Rd, Buckley Ave, and Hobsonville Air Base
areas along with Puriri, Totara and Waimarie roads. It is
anticipated that the Waimarie Rd and Totara Rd areas will be
affected for an extended period of time.
• Power to
Herald Island has been restored.
SECURITY
• NZ Defence Force is continuing to
provide assistance to Police with security and cordons of
the affected area.
• A decision on public access to
the cordoned area will be made later this morning.
WELFARE
• Approximately 230 Defence Force
personnel were provided alternative accommodation by NZ
Defence.
• Two recovery centres will open at 10.00am
at Massey Leisure Centre and Victory Church, managed by
Auckland Council Civil Defence staff with personnel from
Housing NZ, Salvation Army, Work and Income, Child Youth and
Family and Victim Support. The recovery centres will be
closed at 1700 this evening (Friday 7 December).
• 31
affected people who registered at Whenuapai last night are
now being processed.
• Auckland Council Animal Control
have accommodated a number of companion animals overnight.
• Harcourts rental properties division is assisting
with tenants whose houses are uninhabitable.
• The
Ministry of Social Development has asked to deploy roving
teams with Civil Defence personnel to check on houses where
residents remain but may need assistance.
WEATHER
UPDATE
The heavy showers affecting Auckland this
morning are expected to increase during today. We can
expect:
1. Heavy rain and possible hail in showers.
2. Wind gusts within showers of up to 100km/h
3. A
low risk of thunderstorms forming.
4. Shower activity
will increase during the day with most intense rainfall and
activity in the evening.
What to do as storms
approach:
• Take shelter, preferably indoors away
from windows;
• Avoid sheltering under trees, if
outside;
• Move cars under cover or away from
trees;
• Secure any loose objects around your
property;
• Check that drains and gutters are
clear;
• Be ready to slow down or stop, if
driving.
During and after the storm, you should
also:
• Beware of fallen trees and power
lines;
• Avoid streams and drains as you may be swept
away in flash flooding.
Ends