Letters to the Editor: Thanks for help in flooding

Thanks for help in flooding

I refer to your editorial in last Friday night's paper in which you outlined the Fire Services support for the Te Awanga community during Tuesday night's flooding.

Being a member of the Haumoana Volunteer Fire Brigade, I was personally delighted to have received such recognition and whilst as a brigade we would love to lap up all this praise, it was the efforts of many that saved the community from disaster during a night of torrential rain, power cuts and rising water levels.

From 2am that Wednesday morning until daylight our resources were stretched and we would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following: Gordon Foster and his crew from the Hastings District Council emergency management team who assisted with evacuations, transport and radio support. Also his executive staff who arranged support facilities for evacuees.

Alan Daly, our local community constable, who was called back from leave at very short notice and assumed control of the evacuations and to his colleagues from Napier and Hastings who provided back-up support and transport from Te Awanga to Haumoana School Hall.

Civil Defence volunteers from Haumoana and Havelock North who manned the CD Centre which was established at the Haumoana School.

Red Cross for supplying blankets and clothing for the evacuees.

Salvation Army members for manning the school hall kitchen to ensure that all were well-watered and fed during the day.

Unison, who provided initial transport for an elderly resident whose house became quickly flooded and worked tirelessly to get power back on.

The Army for Unimog support in evacuating Clifton residents.

Te Awanga Community Hall members, who allowed us to use their facility as an initial safe point for evacuees.

Haumoana School, who opened their facilities as a CD Centre and additionally provided phone services so evacuees could phone family and friends.

And finally to the residents of Te Awanga, who, despite being woken abruptly in the middle of the night, followed our instructions and evacuated in a very responsible manner without question to designated safe points.

Every one has been exceptional and certainly make our efforts in a time of need very gratifying.

Bill Tims, Haumoana Volunteer Fire Brigade

Did plans happen?

I remember being at boarding school during Cyclone Bola and being astonished when I came home for the next holidays at the way the hills and rivers had been washed away.

In the immediate aftermath of Bola there was loads of talk about how fragile the topsoil in our region was, and how vital it was to protect our topography from slipping and sliding into the rivers and being washed out to sea, taking the region's economy along with it.

I seem to recall all kinds of commitments to fencing off river banks, and planting trees to help stabilise at-risk hillsides and river banks.Paul EadyTaradaleTrees are vitalI grew up in Central Hawke's Bay and still find it incomprehensible that farmers don't wake up to the fact that trees are essential on land. Of course land is going to erode and slip if there are no trees to hold it.

Looking at the pictures on TV you can see there is barely a tree in sight. It's not rocket science, just good land management. Oh and let's not forget that stock like shelter from trees as well. Plant more trees.

Tara Richmond, Taupo

Protect assets Re Wednesday Write In: Work together on protection plan:

Well written Keith Newman. Hopefully all parties concerned will listen to some common sense. We need to protect this site, this area brings a huge amount of tourism to the area.

Linda Hogan, Hastings