MetService Auckland Severe weather warning: January 28th-29th
Auckland has experienced record rainfall over the last 24 hours with widespread flooding creating hazards for people and properties.
Mayor, Wayne Brown, declared a state of emergency in the Auckland region at 9.30pm Friday night, which came into force immediately and will last seven days.
Below is a need to know list to help navigate the floods and the clean up to come:
A bridge on No.4 Rd, Te Puke has been washed out just upstream of the Raparapahoe stream. collins Lane/Te Puke Highway remains flooded between Collins Lane and Manoeka Rd. No.3 Rd at Te Puke is closed due to a large slip and partial land underslip.
Thunderstorm watches are currently in place for the following regions:
Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo- In place to 9am today.
Orange heavy rain warnings are currently in place for the following regions:
Bay of Plenty from Kawerau westwards to 11am today.
Coromandel Peninsula- to 2pm today.
A heavy rain watch is in place for
Auckland including Great Barrier Island - from 6am today until 6am Monday
Taupo - until 11am
Hawkes Bay south of Wairoa - until 3am today.
A full list of updated weather warnings and watches can be found here.
This car was trapped in flooding on Auckland's Northern Motorway yesterday as rising water brings traffic going in both directions to a standstill. Photo / Supplied
Calling for help
If you are in an emergency or feel unsafe, call 111.
Emergency services have been overwhelmed with calls for services.
Fire crews are dealing with an estimated 1500 calls for assistance but many relate to flooded property. They have been prioritising calls where people are in danger and need to be rescued.
Fire and Emergency said its crews responded to 719 weather-related incidents in Waitemata, Auckland city and Counties Manukau on Friday through to 7.30am Saturday.
Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said the first port of call for Aucklanders waking to flooded and damaged properties should be to their insurance company.
“My experience with insurance companies is they have been proactive in severe weather events and this one I expect will be no different,” he said.
Public transport update
Bus:
80 per cent of bus services are operating, including bus rail replacements, with cancellations due to a water-damaged fleet and drivers unable to come to work.
Due to road closures, there are significant bus detours in place.
Flooding occurred overnight at Ranui, Onehunga, Glenfield and Kaiwana Rd bus depots. Operators are still assessing damage and operating impact for Tuesday’s timetable.
Train:
No train services are running because of this weekend’s KiwiRail and City Rail Link rail network closure.
Ambassadors are at the rail bus stops at Britomart, Newmarket and Otahuhu assisting customers.
SH25: Thames to Coromandel closed between Waiomu and Tapu. No detour available.
SH25: Kopu to Hikuai where a large section of road closed at the summit late yesterday afternoon. Tapu-Coroglen and 309 roads were also closed. The detour is SH2 via Karangahape Gorge.
SH23: Either side of Te Kuiti between SH4 and Oparure Rd. Traffic on SH3 should use Troopers Rd and Poarurue Rd to west of Detour for traffic in and out of Te Kuiti.
SH37: At Waitomo flooding has closed the highway between the roundabout at SH3 and Fullerton Rd.
We advise avoiding direct contact with any remaining water; switch off the electricity supply at the fuse box if it is safe to do so. If there is evidence of water inside the fuse box or if there are signs of arcing or overheating, contact a registered electrician.
Please unplug damaged electrical appliances, make sure hobs, TVs and other appliances have been turned off, and move all portable appliances away from the area affected by flooding.
Keep away from exposed wiring, arrange for other services, such as gas, to be switched off: Electricity and gas supplies should not be turned back on until you have had advice from a registered electrician/gas specialist that it is safe to do so.
People using medical equipment that relies on electricity should let their retailer know if they are without power. If there is an immediate health threat, they should contact their health provider or call 111.
Water services - reduction of usage urged
Watercare said its treatment plants are operating and tap water is safe to drink.
However, wastewater plants were being overwhelmed in some areas and it called for people to reduce their wastewater use by keeping showers short and not putting on loads of washing.
That was particularly the case for North Shore residents where the wastewater pump station on Wairau Rd had been flooded, destroying the control systems, Watercare said.
Residents living in Titirangi, Woodlands Park, Oratia, Green Bay, Waima and elevated sections of Scenic Dr, however, are likely to have no water or low water pressure for at least the next 48 hours, Auckland Emergency Management’s Andrew Clark said.
Where to find essential information
Auckland Emergency Management is providing regular updates on their website here.
Auckland Council is providing updates and information on their website here.
The Herald will continue to update its live blog with the latest news.
Supermarket closures
Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, affirmed that supermarkets were open throughout the city and that “there is no need for panic buying.”
The following supermarkets are closed due to flooding:
Pak’nSave Wairau
New World in Newmarket
New World In Mt Albert
Countdown Mairangi Bay
Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quinn said the company still had a big supply of stock and customers at other outlets should not expect shortages.
Foodstuffs had also contacted its food bank partners to say it can work with them to help supply food for those from flood-damaged homes, who may have lost all their food in damaged fridges or freezers or who may have had to evacuate.
Cleaning up at home
It is important to clean and dry your house and everything in it.
Floodwater may contain sewage and other hazardous materials which can contaminate your home.
If your gas meter has been affected by water or debris, contact your gas supplier.
Always work safely when cleaning up after a flood by wearing protective clothing and washing hands thoroughly after clean-up and before handling food.
Keep children and animals away from previously flooded areas until they have been cleaned and made safe.
Take photos and videos of the damage and anything that needs to be thrown away before starting the clean-up, for insurance purposes.
Clean up, drain and dry interior areas as quickly as possible. Take out everything that is wet and that can be moved – floor coverings, furniture, bedding, clothing, etc and put them outside to dry when the weather is fine.
Throw away all food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater, including things stored in containers.
Do not eat garden produce if the soil has been flooded. Clean up and remove debris and sprinkle gardens with lime.
Concert cancellations
Elton John’s remaining concert tonight at Mt Smart Stadium has been cancelled.
Organisers of Monday’s Laneway Festival at Auckland’s Western Springs announced this afternoon the event has been cancelled.
The Gardens Music Festival with headline act Fatboy Slim has moved indoors to Auckland’s Spark Arena for Sunday’s concert.
The reggae festival One Love at Tauranga Domain over the weekend has been cancelled.
The Fatboy Slim concert in Napier on Saturday has been cancelled.
Disappointed fans stream from Mt Smart Stadium as Elton John's concert is cancelled amid heavy downpours in the city. Photo / Alanah Eriksen
Auckland Airport has closed its international terminal check-in area to visitors due to flooding inside the building.
It asked travellers to get in touch with their airline or their airline travel app for the latest information and any impact on travel plans.
The airport said there would not be any international departures before midday Sunday and international arrivals until 7am Sunday.
Auckland Airport reopened its domestic terminal for arrivals and departures about midday on Saturday. But Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said the more significant flooding was still being assessed.
Passengers are asked to follow both Auckland Airport and their airline’s travel alerts for more information.
Auckland beaches are unsafe
All Auckland beaches are now rated high or very high risk for swimming as floodwaters overwhelmed wastewater systems.
Auckland’s SafeSwim website said every beach was now at red or black alert, the highest rating.
At black level, residents are advised to not swim.
