They heard the report and the back end of the building was closed that day.
On July 30 Smith talked to the Red Cross secretary general, and the rest of the building was closed because it posed a threat to Red Cross staff and volunteers, and to the public visiting the bookshop.
The one-storey building was used for branch meetings, first aid training, storage of disaster welfare and support materials, and for sorting and selling books to raise funds. The bookshop was open seven days a week.
The building's closure has come as a huge surprise for the team, Taylor said.
"We certainly wouldn't have been in there if we thought it was unsafe."
A new place has been found for first aid training, and some stored items have been moved out. The branch now wants a new bookshop place and Taylor hopes that can be found soon.
Whanganui Red Cross manager Trudy Taylor was pictured with roses during a 2016 fundraiser. Photo / Stuart Munro
"A lot of our volunteers are through that site and it's just such a community thing, with regular people and customers. It's a wonderful focal point."
There are empty shop fronts in town, but leasing one could be difficult for a financially stretched organisation.
"But we think it's vitally important to have this space in Whanganui, because we are a really strong branch and we have been here for many, many years," Taylor said.
The national Red Cross property manager will be in Whanganui on August 5, to look for alternative premises, Smith said.
"This is really disruptive and quite upsetting for people, so we are moving at pace."
She wasn't sure whether the existing building at 110 Guyton St could be repaired.