MacDonald said officials did not know whether they would need to use emergency powers, but made the precautionary declaration as the worst of the forecast weather was yet to come.
“This will ensure we have those extra powers available to us should we need them.”
Emergency powers most often used are evacuating premises and places, entering premises, closing roads and public places, removing aircraft, vessels, vehicles etc and requisitioning property, equipment, material or supplies.
Enabling evacuations was often the key reason for emergency declarations, according to Civil Defence.
MacDonald asked people in Northland to continue to stay up-to-date with weather forecasts and official information, have a plan in case they need to evacuate, check on neighbours, avoid non-essential travel and take extreme care if it was necessary to be on the roads.
Some Northlanders earlier expressed frustration and confusion as to why a state of emergency had not been declared, despite one being issued as a precautionary step before the previous storm.
One Facebook user commented: “So when Auckland flooded 2 weeks ago and we got that little storm you declared a state of emergency. Now we are experiencing the tail end of this ex-cyclone, with the worst expected tonight and Monday, Tuesday, and we hear nothing.”
Far North Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford, who chairs the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) group, said earlier the situation today was very different to the storm expected on January 31, which resulted in an early emergency declaration.
“The weather pattern that was predicted [on January 31] was one of those atmospheric rivers with a large volume of water and it was coming really fast so we didn’t have time to get resources up here and be ready.
“This time, we’ve known for days ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is coming and it’s not getting worse as it comes toward us.”
The emergency services had not previously expressed a desire for extra powers a state of emergency would give them, Stratford said.
“We’ve had time to mobilise. Everything’s ready and waiting - Fenz has extra resources, St John has extra resources, the police. We are guided by what their needs are.”
Stratford urged Northlanders to be prepared with a go-bag and a way to get information if needed, such as a radio with batteries.
She also asked people in the Far North to let the council know of any flooding issues through the phone number posted on their Facebook page and to call 111 if life was in danger.
The worst of the heavy rain was expected on Monday, MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said, despite some parts of Northland receiving 80mm by 2pm today.
The centre of the storm was expected to be directly over Bream Bay around midnight on Monday.
Northland state of emergency: What you need to know
- A state of local emergency allows access to powers that would not normally be available.
- It is called when an event happens that may cause loss of life or injury and can’t be dealt with by usual emergency services.
- Emergency management has urged people to stay home, avoid non-essential travel and not drive through floodwaters.
- Councils have also asked people not to try to walk or swim in floodwaters as it may contain sewage. If you come into contact with floodwater, wash your hands and clothes when you can.
- If you need to evacuate your home, emergency management advises staying with friends or family if possible. No information on emergency shelters in Northland is yet available.
- Remember to take essential items such as medicines, warm clothing and baby items.
- People are advised to take their pets with them as well as water, food and other essentials for them such as leads and carry cages.
- After the flooding on Friday, Auckland Council advised wearing protective clothing while cleaning up and washing hands thoroughly afterwards. Residents in affected areas should also throw away any food and drinking water that has come into contact with floodwaters. Garden produce should not be eaten if the soil has been flooded.
