Update2 on Gisborne power outage
From Tairawhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management

12 December 2016, 1.15pm

Eastland Network hopes to have power restored to the Gisborne district by the end of Tuesday but people are still advised to prepare for a longer power outage.

Tairawhiti Civil Defence controller Patrick Willock said Eastland Network has crews on the ground now working to restore power.

“Heavy machinery has been mobilised to give access to the site. The crews will work through the night, if not on the line then prepping materials ready for the repairs. We still advise people that they could be without power for possibly two days or more.”

Teams from the network are on the ground assessing the line but the 800 metre section affected has difficult access. The East Coast is being run on generators at the moment.

KEY ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC
Power
• Treat lines as live at all times.
• Turn all power appliances off at the wall.
• Generators supplying the East Coast with power will be cut off from 2pm until 6pm, and again at 8pm.

Water
• Save water both inside and out. That means limit the times the toilet is flushed. No watering of the garden.

Cooking and food
• Use gas for cooking either inside or outside on a barbecue.
• Fire ban has been lifted to enable people to cook outside on an open fire is necessary.
• The free barbecues at Waikanae Beach are available until they run out of gas or are refilled.
• Generators will go in at several fast food outlets later this afternoon.
• Generators will be put into several petrol and gas stations later this afternoon. These will be Caltex Gladstone Road and BP Kaiti. BP Foster and Tyler Ormond Road is not operating at the moment but hopes to be later this afternoon.

General
• Limit the times you open the freezer or fridge to help conserve your food.

Health
• Gisborne Hospital is open.
• Limit visits to the GP to urgent or emergency visits.
• People needing to boil water for baby formula could boil it on gas or a gas barbecue, or use bottled water.

Schools
• Parents should check with their schools as to whether they will be open tomorrow. Wainui School was closed today because of the lack of water. Cellphone use Generators are being installed at cellphone towers in the Gisborne district. People may experience some disruptions as generators are connected. Please note, texting rather than phoning, saves power. ENDS

© Scoop Media