MEDIA RELEASE

12 December 2016, 5pm                           

Please check on your neighbours, postpone getting fuel and gas

Gisborne and East Coast residents are urged to check on their neighbours, particularly the very young and very old as the district goes into its first night without power.

Tairawhiti Civil Defence controller Patrick Willock said many people in the community will be fearful about being without power overnight.

“We ask people to check on their neighbours, friends and family to ensure they are all right.”

People are also asked to postpone getting gas and fuel until tomorrow due to a delay in the 10 generators arriving from Tauranga.

“Contrary to earlier advice, some service stations will not be open until tomorrow morning. People should plan to fill their gas bottles and get fuel then, particularly if they have enough fuel to last for today.”

Some areas including the East Coast north of Tolaga Bay and west of Gisborne have had power today thanks to generators in substations. These were all to be turned off at 8pm to conserve diesel.

“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,” Mr Willock said.”

Eastland Network crews are on the ground working to restore power.

KEY ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC

Power

·         Treat lines as live at all times.

·         Turn all power appliances off at the wall.

·         If you live on the East Coast from Tolaga Bay north and you had power today, this was provided by generators. This supply was cut off for four hours from 2pm until 6pm. It will be turned on from 6pm until 8pm, when it will be cut off again. Tomorrow, Tuesday, power to the East Coast will be intermittent.

·         Whatatutu, Otoko and Puha have also had power from a generator today. On and off times for these areas are the same as for the East Coast.

·         10 generators on their way from Tauranga have been delayed. These will be in place at several service stations tomorrow.

Water

·         A water tanker will be available to Wainui residents at the Wainui Surf Lifesaving Club from around 5pm today and at 7am tomorrow. Residents can also bucket water out of their tanks.

·         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 on a gas hob, or outside on a gas barbecue.

·         The fire ban has been lifted to enable people to cook outside on an open fire if necessary.

·         The free barbecues at Waikanae Beach are available until they run out of gas or are refilled.

·         Some fast food outlets have their own generators.

General

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

Health

·         Gisborne Hospital is open.

·         Most GP practices remained open today but were working at reduced capacity due to difficulty accessing electronic notes.

·         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.

Please note: the cellphone network cannot currently be relied on .

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