Dunedin July Severe Weather update 3.45am, Saturday 22 July 2017

A large slip on Portobello Road, close to King George Street, means access to Portobello and Broad Bay has been cut off.

Access via Highcliff Road is not possible due to current work repairing previous slips.

Dunedin Civil Defence Controller Sue Bidrose says a geotechnical assessment will be carried out at the Portobello Road slip site at first light today.
“The priority will be to establish access past the slip site to enable access for residents.”

An earlier slip close to the Harwood turn-off blocking the road will also need to be assessed.

Civil Defence is evacuating about 100 households in the lower part of Outram because of water flowing into township near the substation at Huntly Road.
This affects lower Formby, lower Bell, Allanton at the Bell Street end, Huntly at the Bell Street end, effectively everything below Orme Street.

Dr Bidrose says it is not safe to drive on roads in and out of Outram. As a result, residents in these streets are being moved to higher ground within Outram.
There is a possibility we may need to evacuate all of Outram at a later point, so residents need to take warm clothes, bedding, pets etc. as they may not be able to get back into their homes for some time.

Volunteers are door knocking in this area to inform residents they need to evacuate. Civil Defence has opened the school hall and community hall on the main street for residents to relocate to if needed. Food and hot drinks will be available at the halls.

Residents are being asked to drive to these locations and not walk as the floodwaters may be contaminated. Lifts will be provided for those that cannot drive.

Flooding in parts of Mosgiel and the Taieri Plain has meant some residents have been evacuated.

Dog owners taking their dogs along the Silverstream Flood Bank track in Mosgiel are advised to take extreme care. The high rainfall in the Silverstream catchment may sweep possum carcasses poisoned with 1080 downstream. Keep dogs on a lead at all times; carcasses will be extremely toxic.
A number of roads are closed due to flooding – a full list of road closures and conditions is available online at www.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions. State highway closures are on the NZ Transport Agency website at http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull declared a state of emergency for Dunedin City this evening in response to issues arising from heavy rain in the city.

DCC staff, contractors, emergency services and Civil Defence personnel are responding as quickly as they can to weather-related issues based on priority.

Dr Bidrose says that motorists should not go sightseeing, or put themselves or others at risk.

Anyone wanting to report flood-related issues with DCC services should call us on 03 477 4000 to report it. Anyone who feels their safety is in danger or who has water entering their house or business should call emergency services on 111.

Residents in low-lying areas who feel concerned can self evacuate. If you choose to evacuate and need help to do so, please call the DCC on 03 477 4000.
Information Centres
Dunedin City Council has opened information centres in South Dunedin and Mosgiel as places where people can go for more information and which can also potentially be used as welfare centres if the need develops. The centres are currently staffed and are located at:

· Mosgiel – Fire Station Theatre, 3 Cargill Street
· South Dunedin – The Mercy Room, Catholic Social Services, 42 Macandrew Road

The Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club is also available if people want to self evacuate.

General preparedness

· If your basement is prone to flooding lift items that could be damaged by water off the floor. Be sure garden sprays and other chemicals won’t be affected
· Check grates near your house for blockages and keep them clear of leaves and other debris to avoid water building up and affecting your property.

For the public to keep up to date with what is happening and for advice about what to do if the rain gets worse, please see the DCC website, DCC social media, listen to the radio and use other media.
Please refer family, friends and neighbours to these communication channels.

www.dunedin.govt.nz
www.facebook.com/DunedinCityCouncil
https://twitter.com/DnCityCouncil

Anyone with flood-related queries or issues should call 03 477 4000.

ENDS

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