Cyclone Gabrielle devastates parts of the North Island. Video / NZ Herald / Supplied
Wairoa’s mayor has put out an urgent request for emergency assistance from “all agencies”.
Craig Little said they are desperately in need of assistance, with hundreds evacuated from properties mainly surrounding the river catchment.
“We are geographically isolated with roads into the district closed and bridges washed away on State Highways. We have received very little help because we are so cut off and everywhere around us is in emergency mode.”
The northern Hawke’s Bay town was cut off from the world after Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the area, with images from the town only emerging last night.
Word came out via the Starlink system, a standalone wi-fi connection that is only accessible to the Emergency Operations Centre.
Little said while they are managing their isolation, that meant they were severely challenged, particularly around food, water supply, fuel and communications.
“At this stage we have enough food, water and fuel for the next few days. Damage to the roading network, lack of phone and internet means there are many people who we have not been able to make contact with.”
Electricity, he said, was also compromised and water restrictions were in place.
Aerial photographs reveal the extent of damage in storm-ravaged Wairoa. Photo / Hawke's Bay Civil Defence
He said the event was being described as “the most catastrophic” weather event to hit the area in living memory.
“The North Clyde side of the town has been hugely impacted.
“We are working to ensure people’s safety and trying to provide the best services we can given our limitations, particularly our isolation. Evacuation sites have been set up.”
The floodwaters in Wairoa have left the town isolated. Photo / Hawke's Bay Civil Defence
Little said the river rose at an “unprecedented rapid rate”, within a very short timeframe, and spilled its banks.
He also thanked their farming community for their help and support in evacuating people in very scary conditions.
“Thank you to all those local people who are assisting.”
Little later told social media followers they were in a bad way in Wairoa.
”We are strong but this is really devastating for a lot of people.”
Civil Defence said the rest of the Wairoa District is still without access to mobile and wi-fi connections.
Due to being completely cut off, Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence said Wairoa has only one day worth of food and enough drinking water for two days.
Controller Liz Lambert said that with the loss of roads, they would be relying on supplies coming in by air.
State Highway 2, Napier to Wairoa. Photo / NZDF
“Wairoa only has one day’s worth of food, and enough drinking water for two days. We have made a request to Nema [the National Emergency Management Agency] for enough food and water to supply the district for seven days,” Lambert said in a statement.
“We are working to ensure people’s safety and trying to provide the best services we can given our limitations.”
All highways into Wairoa are closed because of slips and flooding.
