Brooking said he was feeling for people who were already doing it tough on the Coast.
“There are families on unemployment benefits up here, and I feel for those in times like this, because there’ll be families who can’t afford to go and get three days of supplies, and be prepared.
“There’s always some among our communities who suffer, so that’s where the worry is at the moment.”
Brooking said those in townships up the Coast tended to fare better than people living more remotely, who had an increased risk of becoming isolated through roads or bridges washing away.
“The big concern is what this is doing to the mental health of our people.”
Further south in Tokomaru Bay, Civil Defence coordinator Lilllian Te Hau-Ward was pushing out a similar message to her community: be prepared.
“We’ve pushed out messages to those in the township, make sure you’ve got three days worth of food to survive.”
People in low-lying Te Wehi Rd had been encouraged to relocate before sun down, and Tuatini Marae was open to anybody who needed to take sanctuary.
Pouturu Bridge between Huiarua and Puketoro Stations had been compromised, putting eight properties at a high risk of becoming isolated.
Te Hau-Ward was urging people to be prepared by charging devices in advance and ensuring alternative cooking and lighting methods were available.
Filling a bathtub with water for personal hygiene and toilet-flushing purposes was also advisable.
Her latest challenge was to get a technician to repair the local fuel pump, so that generators could be run in the event of electricity going out.
Tairāwhiti has been in a State of Emergency since Thursday, and will remain so for seven days.
