Snap Shot

Mrs Fychan, are you alright ?

Woke up to a powercut in Wanganui this morning but power was back on by 7.30am.

How's everyone doing ?

MrsFychan

we are not to bad this time round, thanks for asking.
did see that power out up your way.

looks likes most of the damage and closures are further up North, https://www.facebook.com/WREMOnz/pos...318224?fref=nf

BEVS

Bad flooding down the South Island West Coast.

Don't know how that happens with all this everlasting blue sky.

Snap Shot

Glad you are all ok.

I've taken some photos as our garden is flooded. It is ankle deep and still more rain falls.

I've never seen the garden flooded like this here, after nearly four years. Our back garden back in Britain rarely had standing water and certainly not as deep as it is here.

janiejones

You ok, Snapshot? Husband saw on Stuff that things are pretty bad in Wanganui this evening, and one of my friends posted some scary looking photos on Facebook earlier, there's water inside her property.

Hazelnut

Water inside property sounds bad I hope everyone is OK and the rain stops soon.

Snap Shot

Thanks for your concern. Sorry for your friend's flooded house.

We measured 13cm deep standing water on our back garden at 3 o'clock this afternoon. The water was creeping towards the back of the house but is unlikely to make it inside.

By about four hours later, the water level has risen to the point that it has now flooded the garage.

Mayor of Wanganui Anette Main has declared a state of local emergency.

Upstream of Wanganui, about 64kms, there is an early warning gauge. The river level is estimated to rise to 15 metres deep. That is what is heading for Wanganui. High tide is at about 1am. The bodies of water are going to meet each other.

We live about 2 miles from the river. However, all the residents of river front properties are aware of the emergency. The police have already evacuated some residents.

The civil defence emergency plan has been activated. People have been advised to stay indoors and only make essential journeys. Manhole covers are starting to pop open. The sewers are being flooded by stormwater. Dozens and dozens of local roads have been closed due to floods caused by standing water. In a supreme irony, residents are being asked to conserve water as the power cuts have affected the water pumping equipment so the water pressure has been halved at one of the main water bores that serve the town.

The road from Wanganui to Palmerston North is closed at Bulls. The road from Wanganui to New Plymouth is closed at Patea. So, no one can get in or out. Panic buying hasn't started.......yet.

bearskin

Ha. This is New Zealand.

Seriously though, hope you have a better night down there SnapShot. Let us have an update in the morning?

Snap Shot

OK.

The weekday breakfast show host is doing a special breakfast show in Wanganui tomorrow morning, Sunday, especially to broadcast what has happened/is happening.

MrsFychan

"A state of emergency has been declared in Taranaki because of the flooding threat to Waitotara township in South Taranaki.
The declaration gives the Civil Defence Controller the authority to order the evacuation of residents in the affected area.
The Waitotara River has been rising after today's heavy rain and the flood peak at the township near the coast is likely to coincide with high-tide at approximately midnight
tonight.
The declaration of a state of emergency was signed at 9pm tonight and remains in force for seven days unless lifted earlier."


and its still raining and seems to be getting harder and just seen "States of emergency were declared overnight in Taranaki, Rangitikei, and Whanganui, with floodwaters in that city peaking at about midnight."

bearskin

Just turned on the goggle box - nothing on - TV One or 3? How are you doing this morning??

Snap Shot

Wanganui residents are waking up to the city's biggest flood in recorded history.

About 200 people have been evacuated form 100 properties while a large number of residents have also self evacuated.

A state of emergency was declared in Wanganui late yesterday afternoon with Taranaki and Rangitikei following.

The Whanganui River spilled over into the city overnight and breached stop banks along Anzac Parade.

Horizons Regional Council recorded the Whanganui River reaching a peak of 9.1 metres at Town Bridge at 3am, with a flow rate of 4,690 cubic metres a second.

Horizons incident controller Michael McCartney says it has been a challenging night in Wanganui as flood levels exceeded the flood protection standards for parts of Wanganui.

"Surface flooding is expected to recede as river levels drop. Thankfully the weather forecast is looking up but we're aware as people return to their properties there is going to be a big clean-up to face," Mr McCartney said.

This morning water covered Taupo Quay and up to the lower part of Victoria Ave and parallel streets. CBD streets were blocked at Ridgeway St from Market Pl.

(I realise the names of these streets mean nothing to anyone but Wanganui residents and visitors. Suffice to say, my husband works in an office on Taupo Quay. Prestigious riverside offices !)