Friday, August 19, 2022

Urgent Authorised Message: - Tasman and Nelson Residents - PLEASE STAY HOME!

URGENT MESSAGE FROM TASMAN DISTRICT COUNCIL

PICTURES OF A DEVASTATING STORM - NELSON /TASMAN

Waitapu Bridge

Nelson

The Maitai River (also known as the Mahitahi River) is the largest river in the city of Nelson,

Nelson

The Wood

Sand bags protection from the Maitai

The flooded Maitai

Trafalgar St Bridge

Looking out from Nelson Library

Area around Waitapu

The Maitai River

You can see how the Maitai River has just about entered the Riverside cafe

Trafalgar St Bridge

Nelson flooding

I have been sitting there!

Riverside

Waitapu Bridge Takaka River

Area around Waitapu

1931 Corner of Hardy and Rutherford St Nelson

17 August 11:51pm

With the anticipated heavy rain now hitting the Nelson Tasman region, we hope that you and your whānau are staying safe out there.

With surface flooding on our minds, today we share a 1931 photograph from our Collections Online of two motor vehicles driving through floodwaters at a Nelson city intersection, thought to be the corner of Hardy Street and Waimea Street (now Rutherford Street). The premises of Ivory Bros Ltd, Bert Tomlinson, and the Waverley Dancing Academy can be seen.

📷 credit: Nelson Flood December 1931. Nelson Provincial Museum, Kingsford Collection: 161830

Nelson Provincial Museum

Nelson

Behind the Visitor Centre carpark Takata

Maitai

Riverside

Riverside Nelson

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Buller Emergency Management update - 17th August, 2022

Buller’s emergency operations centre will be operating all night tonight, as civil defence monitors the impact of the forecast rain, swells and high tide in the district.

Civil Defence Controller Douglas Marshall said about 160 households in low-lying parts of Westport had been encouraged to self-evacuate as a precaution this afternoon. This was to reduce the likelihood of urgent evacuations if the situation deteriorated overnight, putting both residents and emergency responders at risk.

Most people have made their own arrangements and only a handful have needed assistance to find accommodation.
Anyone in Westport needing assistance tonight can call 0800 234 533 and the Recovery Hub in Palmerston St will be open again from 8am.

Local support arrangements are also in place in Seddonville and Mokihinui in case residents need to evacuate tonight.

Mr Marshall said the “red” weather warning for Buller extended until 7pm on Thursday so the main impacts of the heavy rain on the district was probably yet to come.

The Mokihinui River was rising fast tonight, while latest modelling suggested the Buller River at Westport would peak mid afternoon tomorrow. A period of intense rainfall is likely from 10pm tonight until and 2am, which will add to surface flooding already developing around the district.

This evening, surface flooding is starting to build up in a relatively small area of Westport, bounded by Derby, Mill, Brougham and Domet Streets. Mr Marshall said the water was not from the Orowaiti River but was stormwater that could not drain into the Orowaiti. Operations staff are monitoring the situation and will use portable pumps where they will be effective.
“I know people who have evacuated today will be keen to know when it’s safe to return home. All we can say tonight is that we will assess the situation in the morning and let people know how it’s looking as soon as we can,” he said.
In the meantime, the Police will be carrying out reassurance patrols around the town, including the evacuated areas.

Pigeon Post News

Police Update - Severe Weather Event

Wednesday, 17 August 2022 - 8:16pm | Tasman

Tasman District Police will continue to assist local Civil Defence Emergency Management teams with the district-wide response to the current severe weather event.

Police staff have travelled from other areas to assist their colleagues in the areas that have been hardest hit. Police will maintain continuity of usual services while playing our part in the State of Emergency response on the West Coast and in Nelson-Tasman.

We continue to advise limiting travel to essential travel only, as there have been several road closures across the district. Stay home, stay safe and if you are in danger call 111.

Pigeon Post News

Rain continues in Nelson and Tasman as Heavy Rain Warning Turns Red

Heavy Rain Warning Red for Nelson

MetService have late this afternoon upgraded the weather forecast to a Red Warning from Cape Soucis, through Nelson City to Stock.

The expectation is for a further 250 to 400 mm of rain to accumulate on top of what has already fallen. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h possible, especially until about 6pm Wednesday and again during Thursday morning.

This rain is expected to cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding. Slips and floodwaters are likely to disrupt travel, making some roads impassable and possibly isolating communities.

A state of local emergency has been declared in Nelson and Tasman
If you live near the river from the Nile St Bridge to the Golf Course, please EVACUATE. Stay with friends and family if you are able. If you have no safe place to go, head to the Saxton Stadium . Take pets, essential medications and warm clothing. Avoid bridges and rivers. We are going door to door to evacuate affected people but if this is you, do not wait.
A regional state of emergency was declared on the West Coast on Tuesday
Tasman Police have advised people in the wider region to limit their travel.
Heavy rain has been falling in Nelson-Tasman and will continue until Thursday evening
Both Nelson and Tasman service centres have been overloaded with calls and ask if only urgent calls are made.
Both Nelson City and Tasman District Council don’t supply sand bag help
The Matai River in Nelson has flooded, and homes are being evacuated. About 70 properties are affected
Emergency management have recommended residents of parts of Westport evacuate their homes
Some residents at Paines Ford in Golden Bay have been evacuated
Many roads in Golden Bay are closed
There are slips, road closures and surface flooding in Golden Bay, Richmond and SH6 from Rai Valley to Hira
The MetService has issued orange warnings for Nelson and Tasman, and red warning for the West Coast.

About 200-350mm of rain had been recorded in the ranges of northwest Tasman by lunchtime Wednesday, with about 230mm at Franz Josef

The Tākaka Service Centre will be CLOSED for the rest of Wednesday 17 August and Thursday 18 August so staff can assist with Civil Defence Emergency Management efforts.
There are reports of boulders blocking lane along Wakefield Quay
Slips on roads in North Nelson.
Montgomery Square carpark entrance from Bridge St closed due to flooding.
Reports of stormwater overflow and surface flooding near Nelson Int., Tipahi, Tukuka and Kawai Street South.
Reports of stormwater overflow and surface flooding near Nelson Int., Tipahi, Tukuka and Kawai Street South.
Reports of stormwater overflow along Rocks Rd.
Flooding SH6 Hira to Rai Valley, caution advised if traveling.
Main Road Stoke (Saxton to Sailsbury) will likely close soon
Maitai Road closed
Slips on roads in North Nelson.
Montgomery Square carpark entrance from Bridge St closed due to flooding.
Reports of stormwater overflow and surface flooding near Nelson Int., Tipahi, Tukuka and Kawai Street South.
Reports of stormwater overflow along Rocks Rd.
Flooding SH6 Hira to Rai Valley, caution advised if traveling.
Main Road Stoke (Saxton to Sailsbury) will likely close soon
Maitai Road will closed
SH6 Rocks Road is closed
Landslide Atawhai at Devenish Place going out to Dodson Valley Road. Staff alerted.
Riverside Pool closed due to flooding.
Sewage overflow Gloucester St.
Flooding Frenchay Dr Atawhai.
Contractors responding.
Parkers Rd pump station down.
Hanby Park starting to flood.
Founders Heritage Park has closed due to slips and flooding near the park on Atawhai Drive.
Very high volumes of stormwater is infiltrating the wastewater network means the pumps across the region are struggled to cope. Raw sewage has spilled from these sites Tasman District Council has said. The Council has created a list on their website and are urging people to treat all surface water as potentially contaminated. (follow the link) Treat all surface water as potentially contaminated
If you are in danger and cannot evacuate safely, call 111
With the amount of rain that's due to fall in the next few days we're expecting slips, rockfalls, tree falls and travel disruptions. Click the link below to keep up to date with any local, Tasman road closures and disruptions via an interactive map. Clicking on the affected road will bring up the issue, description and other relevant information (such as speed restrictions and expected road reopening dates) For a complete view of State Highway disruptions, head to Waka Kotahi’s website. Local Tasman, road disruptions and closures

Pigeon Post News

State of Emergency Declared in Nelson

State of Emergency Declared as the Maitai floods

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese has declared a state of emergency after the Maitai river in Nelson East breached its banks.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management is asking people who live near the river from the Nile St Bridge to the Golf Course to evacuate.

People are being asked to stay with friends and family if you are able.

If people have no safe place to go, they should head to the Saxton Stadium where they will be able to gain assistance.

Mayor Reese says there are preparations underway to look after people who need to leave their homes and there will be trained people on hand to offer support.

People are being asked to take pets, essential medications and warm clothing.

Civil Defence is asking people to avoid bridges and rivers.