Flood-stricken communities band together

Northlanders, especially those in flood-struck areas like Moerewa, continued to show remarkable resilience as the region worked to return to normality in the wake of last week's storm, Civil Defence officials said on Sunday.

Graeme MacDonald, spokesman for the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group, said welfare and infrastructure remained the key focus as the recovery phase moved into its second day.

In and around Moerewa, where flood waters had forced a number of families from their homes, stoic locals, while understandably frustrated by the effects of the storm, were taking matters in their stride and looking after each other, aided by official support.

The latter included a welfare centre that had been working out of the Te Punawai Trust Christian Centre, which closed on Sunday morning, but would re-open if needed.

Far North District Council building inspectors were also door-knocking in the area, monitoring sanitation and other issues. The council was arranging for portable toilets and extra rubbish bins to be delivered to the area on Sunday.

Firefighters were also hoping to assist with pumping, and, depending on the availability of fresh water, washing out some flood-affected homes.

Mr MacDonald said anyone in the Far North whose home was flooded or who urgently needed accommodation, food, heating, clothing or medical supplies should phone the FNDC on 0800 920-029.

Meanwhile Mr MacDonald said Top Energy and Northpower had done remarkably well at restoring electricity to the thousands of customers the storm had affected. Top Energy reported on Saturday night that it still had about 570 customers without power, and still had some issues at locations including Rangiputa, North and South Hokianga, small areas around Opua and Peria and at Te Kao, but despite site access problems caused by steep and muddy terrain, it was hoping to have most customers reconnected on Sunday.

The roading situation continued to change constantly, and number of places on the state highway network, including a major slip south of Kawakawa, continued to be closed or affected by flooding, slips or other storm-related damage. It was a similar story with the local roading network, but officials were working hard to assess damage and find alternate routes whenever possible.

Some rain was forecast for tonight but was not expected to cause any new problems. The forecast for the next week was for fine weather, but high tides were still affecting flood-swollen rivers, and could cause fresh roading issues in some places.

Go to www.AAroadwatch.co.nz or www.nzta.govt.nz for the latest road information.

On the health front, arrangements were being made on Sunday to transport, by air if necessary, two renal patients from the Far North who required treatment.