A State of Emergency was declared for the Clutha District this afternoon due to extensive storm yesterday and the resulting widespread power outages.

Clutha District Council is leading the response locally, with support from emergency services and partner agencies.

Many of our farming communities are isolated, due to power and communication outages with large amounts of damage throughout the district.

The community’s welfare needs are being assessed, and these include drinking and wastewater services.

MPI is assessing the help that farmers will need to milk cows and dairy New Zealand.

Generators are being sourced for people without power.

ORC’s proactive dairy farm inspections have been deferred until 3 November.

Some towns are without water. Please avoid flushing. Water tanks have been placed in affected towns. See www.cluthadc.govt.nz/weather-event

Red Cross is setting up a drop-in centre at the Lawrence, Simpson Park on Thurso Street, between 5.30 -7.30pm this evening, for needs assessments and refreshments.

The Tyrone Lounge at Cross Recreation Centre in Balclutha is open for showers, power and free wifi.

In Milton a drop-in service centre is being set up for people affected.

If people need water or don’t have power or wifi they can contact Clutha council so that they can gauge the need in the community.

Radio broadcasts are the best way for people without internet to get updates- RNZ, Hokonui, the Hits and More FM.

For local updates and instructions, follow Clutha District Council
and visit: https://www.cluthadc.govt.nz/council/alerts

If you’re in the affected areas, please:
- Conserve water and only flush when necessary.
- Stay off roads where possible, and avoid damaged or downed power lines.
- Listen to local radio (More FM 92.9 / 93.7 or Hokonui 95.2 / 91.3 / 88.3) for updates if phone or internet is down.

Welfare needs are being assessed across affected communities, including access to drinking water, wastewater services, and power.
Generators are being sourced for those without power, and MPI and DairyNZ are assisting farmers with milking and animal welfare needs.

Cows in mid-lactation can tolerate going for extended periods (up to a week) without milking. DairyNZ has advice on its website about missed milkings:

https://www.dairynz.co.nz/support/crisis-and-adverse-events/missed-milkings/

· DairyNZ has further advice online around severe weather: https://www.dairynz.co.nz/support/crisis-and-adverse-events/ and https://www.dairynz.co.nz/support/crisis-and-adverse-events/power-outages/

A service centre is being set up in Milton for residents needing support.

If you don’t have internet, tune into RNZ, Hokonui, The Hits, or More FM for updates.

For the latest information, follow:

• Clutha District Council Facebook page
• Otago Emergency Management Facebook page

Our thoughts are with everyone affected - thank you to the crews, volunteers, and communities working tirelessly to support one another.

© Scoop Media