Ruapehu District Council has stepped its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) down to Level 1 as it focuses on recovery from the heavy rain event earlier in the week.

Welfare assistance still available if needed

Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley said that calls for welfare assistance have dropped off but we are continuing to provide support where required and are encouraging anyone in need of help to still call Council on 07 895 8188.

For any emergency or life-threatening situations call 111.

The weather event impacted northern Ruapehu particularly hard with widespread flooding and multiple slips and drop-outs impacting the road network.

Flooding from the Ohura and Ongarue Rivers and Mangaroa Stream impacted a number of small settlements including Ohura, Matiere, Tokirima, and Waimiha.

A handful of properties situated near the rivers self-evacuated however there was only one home at Okahukura next to the Ongarue River that had water inside it.

Council’s welfare team is providing support and supplies to affected people who have been able to shelter with neighbours, friends or whanau while they waited for the water to recede from around their properties.

Caution urged with flood water and clean-up

Anyone who has had flood water on their property should recognise that there are potential health risks from contamination and exercise care and good hygiene practices when cleaning up.

All flood water is potentially contaminated from such things as septic tanks, animal faecal matter, farm chemicals, road run-off.

People and animals should avoid contact with flood waters if possible.

Do not allow children to play in flood affected areas until clean-up is complete.

People should utilise protective clothing such as rubber gloves, boots and eye protection while cleaning-up.

Any food or drink that has been in contact with flood water should be thrown out.

Most importantly, use basic hygiene and aways wash your hands with soap and water after participating in any flood clean-up activities.

Focus on opening local roads

Council’s land transport team have undertaking inspection tours of the worst affected areas checking road damage, bridges, and other infrastructure.

They have found multiple slips, dropouts and cracking across the network with receding flood waters leaving behind heavy silt deposits, logs and other detritus on affected roads.

Council’s professional services contractor is bringing a second roading engineer to help with the large number of assessments needed with repairs anticipated to costs millions of dollars.

The focus of roading teams over the next few days will be on assessing the damage, ensuring access with at least one-lane open, and then planning and implementing long-term repairs.

Crews are working hard to clear slips and repair damage as quickly as possible.

People are asked to take extreme care when driving around the district with a lot of large vehicles and other heavy equipment on the roads as part of the recovery efforts.

As local road conditions are reported back in from around the district and roads are opened we will keep people advised on our website ruapehudc.govt.nz and Facebook page.

People are asked to continue to call Council on 07 895 8188 with any road outage information.

State highways still closed

Travel out of the district is also still an issue with SH3, SH4 and SH43 still closed.

If people do need to travel they should check on the NZTA journey Planner website before leaving. See: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner

LOCAL ROAD INFORMATION : FRI 17 OCT - 10.30am

Kokomiko Road - CLOSED - 2-3 weeks minimum for repairs

Takiri Road - CLOSED

Tapuiwahine Road - CLOSED

Ongarue Back Road - CLOSED - to remain closed while SH4 closed

Ongarue Stream Road - CLOSED - further works required over coming weeks

Poro-o-Tarao road - CLOSED- to remain closed while SH4 closed

Taringamotu Road - CLOSED - between 12.7 and 19.5km

Huia Road - OPEN - has been flooded

Kururau B - OPEN

Mangapapa Road - OPEN - needs work, in rough condition

Mangaparo Road - OPEN

Ngakonui Ongarue Road - OPEN

Ngapuke Road - OPEN - some slumping

Ongarue Waimiha Road - OPEN - some slips

Pukehou Road - OPEN - some slumping

Roto Road - OPEN - some damage

Waitaanga Road - OPEN

Waitea Branch Road - OPEN - some slumping

Ohura Road - OPEN WITH CAUTION - slippery surfaces

Okahukura Saddle Road - OPEN WITH CAUTION

Hohotaka Road - CLOSED

MacClure Road (off Ohura Rd) - UNKNOWN

Ohura North Road - UNKNOWN

Tanga Road - UNKNOWN

Waitewhena Road - UNKNOWN

Waituhi Road - UNKNOWN

STATE HIGHWAYS

Travel out of the district is also still an issue with SH3, SH4 and SH43 still closed with multiple slips.

If people do need to travel they should check on the NZTA journey Planner website before leaving.

See: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner

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