Tornado victim blown away by community's help

Jackie Winters' home near the small settlement of Kiawaka was hit by a small tornado in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Photo / Greg Bowker

A Northland woman who was in bed when a tornado ripped the roof off her house early today says she was more blown away by the help she has received from the local community.

The tornado ripped a 75-metre swathe of destruction through Kaiwaka, 62km south of Whangarei about 1am, tearing off half the roof of Jane Winters' house, leaving the other half intact.

"My dog woke me up. He was banging around under my bed and I could see lightning on the horizon in the north," Ms Winters told NZPA.

"It was a clear night, the stars and moon were out, and then suddenly this strong wind came. I sat up in bed and I could see the posts of the desk jumping up and down and the window in my room was going in and out. I said to the dog 'come on, let's get the hell out of here' but then 'bang!' And the whole half of the roof came off.

"It was very scary, very scary. I haven't experienced anything quite like that before - it sounded like a jet engine."

Ms Winters said the tornado left just as suddenly as it had arrived.

"I rang my friend Dave, who's a volunteer fireman, and he came out and went 'I think we need to get all the boys out here' and I was just totally blown away by their help.

"They moved all my gear to the side of the house that had a roof. They've been here all morning and nailed tarps down on my roof, and I've had the neighbours coming in with food. That's probably blown me away more than the tornado."

Kaiwaka chief fire officer John Bowman said firemen were greeted by insulation Batts and other debris flung about by the wind when they arrived at the house.

"I have never seen it (damage) quite as bad in a house."

Power to the house was also down after the wires were ripped out of the meter box.

He said the Ms Winters was distressed but her sense of humour did not desert her.

"She said she had never had so many men in her bedroom before," Mr Bowman said.

"It is part of our job to help people."