The driver was still in this car when it was submerged by floodwaters on the Blackball-Stillwater Road, near the Stillwater turn-off, this morning. The driver got out safely. Photo/ Amanda Paton
The driver was still in this car when it was submerged by floodwaters on the Blackball-Stillwater Road, near the Stillwater turn-off, this morning. The driver got out safely. Photo/ Amanda Paton
A clean-up is under way in Hokitika after 45 elderly rest home residents and numerous houses were evacuated in the dead of night, as surface flooding engulfed the lower town.
The early morning evacuations followed a deluge of 72mm of rain between 8 and 11pm yesterday, on top of heavy rain all day, with 211mm in 24 hours.
Evacuations began at Allen Bryant Life Care rest home just before midnight and the home was cleared completely by 2.15am, chief clinical officer Carole Kaffs said.
About 150mm of water flooded the low-lying building, opposite Cass Square.
"There was this huge sudden deluge that didn't stop. By 11.30 staff realised that they were dealing with a flood situation," Ms Kaffs said.
Hokitika Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Harry Collett said between 15 and 20 older homes in Weld, Hoffman and Bealey streets were cleared with help from neighbours, the police and the brigade.
Lower Fitzherbert Street, including the Jade Court Motel and Fitzherbert Motels, were flooded but there was nothing "life threatening".
A Department of Conservation worker pumps 1m-deep floodwaters from the basement of the Hokitika Regent Theatre this morning. Photo / Greymouth Star
Most of the flooding was due to backed up stormwater fluming into low lying areas. In particular, the railway line seemed to act as a water course from upper Fitzherbert Street into the central business area.
"There was no way the pumps could keep up," Mr Collett said.
The brigade was kept busy until about 4.30am.
Westland Mayor Mike Havill described the night's events as "a bloody disaster".
"It's just something that no one needs but is something that is always on the cards."
Mr Havill said he understood from council staff that backed up stormwater was the major cause, not the flood in the Hokitika River.
"The system just couldn't cope."
Westland Pharmacy proprietor Graham Provis was called by emergency services about 1am, as sandbags were placed in the central business area at high tide.
His premises on the corner of Weld and Tancred largely escaped flooding. Plumber Jeff Evans said just over 150mm of water went through his Tancred Street workshop although the adjoining showroom escaped. Next door, the Stonewood Homes showroom was completely flooded with at least 400mm of water.
Camera shop Photo Corner largely escaped although water had pooled in the western edge of its Weld Street showroom.
Proprietor Katrina Thornley was counting herself lucky: "It could have been so much worse."
"We're not as bad as I thought it could have been. I take my hat off to the Fire Brigade guys -- they've been working all night."
Over the road at the Regent Theatre, Westland Community Centre volunteers had a real mess with water up to 1m deep underneath the stage and soaked carpet at the front of the building.
Manager James Falloon said a small amount of water began to creep in late last night following the last movie.
