BOP residents brace for more as rains come again

Worried Bay of Plenty residents are bracing themselves for more flood damage as the area is again being hit with heavy rain.

Tauranga City Council communications manager Elizabeth Hughes said heavy rain started falling about 2.00pm today.

However the Met Service said today's rain should not be as bad as Wednesday's deluge where flood waters damaged dozens of homes.

Ms Hughes told NZPA the council were trying to reassure people who were concerned they would need to sandbag their properties.

"We're just trying to play it a little bit cool."

The rain is expected to ease by this evening, she said.

The Met Service said the rainfall rates were not expected to be anywhere near as extreme as they were a few days ago but may reach 20 to 25 millimetres per hour for a time.

Engineers have finished inspecting damaged Tauranga homes, and of the 504 homes damaged by flood or landslip, 16 are beyond repair, and 109 will need rebuilding before people can return to them.

Tauranga City Council recovery manager Terry Wynyard said in a statement 61 people, who have registered with the council as evacuees, are staying in temporary accommodation.

Mr Wynyard said the council would meet residents affected by the slips or floods later today to give them an update on the recovery operation.

Representatives from the council, Work and Income, the Insurance Council, the Earthquake Commission, and Victim Support would be available to speak with the residents at the meeting, he said.

Ms Hughes said a list of local engineers, contractors, plumbers, and builders who could prioritise their workloads to take over re-construction work was being put together today.

She said the list will be made available to insurers.

"Because of the forecast it is unlikely we will try and re-locate people back into their homes today," she said.The council has called a meeting at 5pm today in the council chambers for all people affected by the floods.

- NZPA