District’s west most affected by storm

The scale of damage from last week’s storm is now becoming clear as data collected by Far North District Council Rapid Response Teams, welfare teams, and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is collated.

Six days after MetService issued its Red Rain Warning on Wednesday 25 March, the council’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has confirmed that the worst impacts have been in the district’s west from Kaitāia south.

A total of 161 residents in the south Hokianga community of Whirinaki were directly affected when the Whirinaki River burst its banks. Sixty-five homes have been impacted, a number of which are uninhabitable.  Those residents are being looked after in alternative accommodation. Whakarongotai Marae is supporting the community and is providing hot meals for those working on the recovery.

Elsewhere across the district, 377 homes have been assessed. Food and water have been distributed by Rapid Response Teams to affected community members and other support such as portable toilets, rubbish skips and septic tank assessments have also been provided.

A relief fund was established on Friday 27 March for residents whose properties have been damaged by the storm. Applications can made once Civil Defence teams have assessed the damage. As of this afternoon, a total of $22,100 in funding has been allocated.

Communities visited by Rapid Response Teams and the New Zealand Defence Force inlcude:

• Kaitāia
• Mitimiti
• Ōmanaia
• Ōpononi
• Panguru
• Pawarenga
• Rāwene
• Waimamaku
• Whirinaki.

A total of 99 district roads were impacted by the weather event with all now open, although 11 have restrictions such as being reduced to one lane.

The local State of Emergency declared for the Far North District on Thursday 26 March is in place for seven days and will be reviewed on Thursday 2 April.

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Main image: Aeria l image of Whirinaki 27 March.

Lower images: Aerial images of Whirinaki 27 March, plus Wekeweka Road  bridge 27 March.