Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Nelson Tasman Emergency Management

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE

22August 2022

Kia ora everyone! Before we leap into today's update we wanted to acknowledge that there are a lot of people out there doing it really tough at the moment.

We appreciate your patience, your flexibility and your resilience and would like to thank you for your support in the response thus far.

With the State of Emergency in Nelson Tasman extended for a further week through to Wednesday 31 August, we still have a lot of work to do ahead.

THE MOST IMPORTANT STUFF

INCIDENT INFORMATION

The Incident Information Centre will remain at the Trafalgar Centre until 6:30pm tomorrow evening, Tuesday 23 August. From Wednesday 24 August this will then move to the former iSite building Millers Acre Centre, Nelson. Hours will remain the same from 8:30am to 6:30pm.

Insurance Council, EQC and other insurers, WINZ, Primary Health, Red Cross and IRD will be present on-site.

ROADING

SH6 Rocks Road remains closed. An update on the road status will be provided tomorrow, Tuesday 23 August.

SH6 Bayview to Hira is open to residents only.

Moana Ave remains closed due to a slip. The alternative route goes through Waimea Road and the centre of town.

SH60 Bird Hill will be closed between Takaka and Collingwood from 4-6pm tonight, Monday 22 August. It will then open overnight from 6pm-7am.

From tomorrow, it will be open to light vehicles ONLY at the following times: 8am-9am, 12pm-1pm, 3pm-4pm and overnight from 6pm-7am, and closed for the remainder of the day.

We recommend limiting non-essential travel and working from home where possible. If you are travelling, please take care, keep your speed down and allow additional time to reach your destination.

RE-ENTRY

Supported re-entry is underway for evacuated residents and is directed by a placard structure based on risk:

Red placards mean that entry is not permitted under any circumstances

Yellow placards mean you may have temporary access during daytime hours to retrieve contents, but cannot stay overnight

White placards (or no placard, or a white dot on or around your entryway) means your home is safe to re-enter.

Nelson City Council will begin calling evacuated residents from tomorrow, Tuesday 23 August, to confirm the status of their homes.

CLEANING UP

Cleanfill (soil and mud) that was deposited around homes by flooding can be disposed of at two sites: Stoke (corner of Main Road Stoke and Saxton Road – the old Circus set up location) or Miyazu Gardens (the northern end).

These sites are for households and can accommodate small trucks and cars with trailers and will be open 8am–6pm.

There is also an additional site at Vickerman Street (opposite Brusco Nelson) for commercial operators and large vehicles.

Transfer stations around the region will accept flood-damaged goods for free for a period of two weeks from today, Monday 22 August 2022.

This is for goods that were damaged during the weather event during the week 15 to 21 August and customers will be asked to sign a declaration that the goods were damaged because of the flooding.

Skips are being placed in the Nelson City area in places where the worst flood damage occurred, to allow for the disposal of small household items (i.e. toys, clothes, pots, pans, small appliances etc.).

This includes the Nile Street, Wood, Tahuna and Atawhai areas, and we will monitor demand and place more skips if needed.

Skips will be available for two weeks from Monday 22 August. Please only use these skips to dispose of small flood-damaged goods, it’s not the time to clear out your garage, please think of others in your community that have suffered damage to their homes and need the space.

Additional options are being considered by Civil Defence for the disposal of larger flood-damaged items such as furniture, whiteware, carpets, and rugs, so please keep an eye out for more information.

OTHER STUFF

An additional reminder to continue to be kind, check on your neighbours and be patient with each other as we work towards recovery together.

Nga mihi nui.

FAQs for returning home after evacuations

Q. What if my home is damaged?

A. If you are able to (i.e. if your house has no placard or a yellow placard), you should take photos of all damage and speak to your insurance company as soon as possible.

There will be insurance experts at the Incident Information Centre daily from 8:30am - 6:30pm if you prefer to speak to someone in person.

Q. Where can I go to for help?

A. The Incident Information Centre is open from 8:30am – 6:30pm daily. It will remain at the Trafalgar Centre Nelson until 6:30pm tomorrow evening, Tuesday 23 August, following which it will move to the old iSite building Millers Acre Centre, Nelson from Wednesday 24 August.

Q. Is there someone I can talk to about insurance?

A. Yes- there will be insurance experts daily at the Incident Information Centre to talk to you kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face). You can also call your insurance company if you prefer.

You should be taking photos and talking to their insurer as soon as you can.

Q. Can I get cash from the Mayoral Relief Fund?

A. The Fund will be open to any resident, ratepayer, business owner and not-for profit organisation in Nelson or Tasman regions that has suffered financial hardship as a result of the weather event.

Details about how to apply will be made available soon.

Q. Can I get an emergency MSD payment?

A. You may be eligible. MSD will be at the Incident Information Centre daily or you can call 0800 559 009.

Q. How long will we be in a state of emergency?

A. At this stage, we are in a state of emergency until at least Wednesday 31 August. Basically, it just means Civil Defence have certain powers to make things happen to preserve community safety in an emergency.

Q: I am really stressed. Can I talk to someone?

A. Yes, you can call or text 1737 for 24/7 for confidential support.

Nelson Tasman Emergency Management Facebook page

Pigeon Post News

Monday, August 22, 2022

State of Emergency extended in Nelson Tasman for a further 7 Days

Media Release 22 August 2022

The State of Emergency has been extended in Nelson Tasman for a further 7 Days

The state of Civil Defence Emergency in Nelson Tasman has been extended until 2.54 pm on Wednesday 31 August 2022, a further seven days from the original declaration.

This will enable the emergency efforts to continue to be well resourced with support from central government and all agencies.

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese signed the declaration to extend the state of emergency this afternoon in her capacity as Chair of the Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, saying that this recognises the gravity of the effect of the rain event on the region and the critical needs that remain in the community.

“Extending the state of local emergency for another week ensures we have the resources we need to continue supporting our community through the response,” Mayor Reese says.

“Planning and initial steps for the transition from response to recovery is well underway. The main focus is helping our affected community return to their homes, or to find suitable alternative accommodation as quickly as possible.

“570 properties were directly affected by the weather event, requiring evacuation, however through the tireless work of our responders the majority of these properties have now been checked and where possible, residents are being contacted to return to their homes. It’s vital that we get them the right support, and that we continue looking out for each through this.

“I want to acknowledge the Civil Defence staff who have deployed here from around the country and all the agencies that have allocated personnel to help through this challenging time.

“On behalf of our region, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has helped with this response. We are humbled and grateful for your efforts,” Mayor Reese says.

Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council have both set up a series of supports for people affected, including a drop-in centre which relocates to the former iSite building from Wednesday 24 August, and is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm daily.

A civil defence centre at Saxton Stadium is also open from 9am to 6pm daily. If members of the public have questions they can call Nelson City Council on 03 546 0200 24/7 and Tasman District Council 03 543 8400. If residents have been evacuated or have self-evacuated, please register with Nelson City Council.

Pigeon Post News

Sunday, August 21, 2022

State Highway closures

21 August 2022 10:06 am | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Slip clearing, SH6 Whangamoa Hill.

While the rain has stopped and floodwaters have receded, the state highway network across the top of the South Island remains seriously affected.

Recovery and assessment work is continuing. However, because of the extent of the damage caused, it will be some time before the links between Nelson and Blenheim on State Highway 6 and State Highway 63 are restored. An update on their status will be provided on Tuesday, 23 August.

The only alternative route into Nelson from Blenheim, the West Coast and Canterbury is via the Lewis Pass, State Highway 7, and Murchison, State Highways 65 and 6.

Moscow Today

Daughter of 'Putin's Rasputin' Alexander Dugin killed in mystery Moscow car bomb

Alexander Dugin, ultra-nationalist Russian philosopher who influenced Putin, believed to be target of bombing

Alexander Dugin in 2016

A car bomb near Moscow has killed the daughter of the ultra-nationalist Russian philosopher behind Vladimir Putin’s aggressive expansionist strategies that propelled him to invade Ukraine.

Alexander Dugin may have been the intended target of the bomb that killed his daughter, Darya, as she was driving home from a festival outside Moscow where her father had just given a lecture.

Video showed Mr Dugan - known as “Putin’s brain” and even “Putin’s Rasputin” - holding his hands to his head in disbelief as he stood staring at the burning car. Eyewitnesses reported a large explosion and Russian officials said that 30-year-old Darya died instantly.

“An explosive device allegedly installed in a Toyota Landcruiser car went off at full speed on a public highway, and then the car caught fire,” said Russia’s investigation committee. “The girl who was driving died at the scene.”

View of Nelson from Moturoa/ Rabbit Island

The hard working TDC staff have just announced that Moturoa/ Rabbit Island is open to pedestrians

We are pleased to report that after an assessment of the area this morning, the front beach reserve of Moturoa/ Rabbit Island is open to pedestrians.

However, due to deep surface water covering the roads it will remain closed to vehicles.

A cordon will be placed at the end of Ken Beck Drive and cars can park at this location. This allows a short walk to the front beach.

Tasman District Council

Pigeon Post News

Severe weather causing landslides around the country – Information for evacuees

An article just published by GeoNet:

Where Reservoir Creek crossed Hill St Richmond - it took all day just to clean the road but residents here have a terrible mess to clean-up

21 Aug

With the ground already saturated it was Richmond that received the final devastation of the storm in the early hours of Saturday morning 20 August. It had been raining constantly in Richmond for days like the rest of flood-stricken Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and Buller.

The amount of water last night was too much for the ranges behind Richmond to hold.

Residents have been evacuated from homes after two creeks in the area turned into rivers after a second dose of heavy rainfall overnight.

Creeks turned into rivers over night Hill St., Richmond Tasman

Occupants of around 10 homes in the Hill St area of Richmond, Tasman, were asked to evacuate early in the morning, Nelson Tasman Civil Defence public information manager Chris Choat said.

"The evacuations essentially have come from ... Reservoir Creek, which used to wend its way lovingly down between houses.

"It broke its banks and just went straight down."

Many other house owners in the area had parts of their homes affected and gardens destroyed by the overflowing creeks.

The second flood for Residents on Hill St to cope with on Saturday.

Police, Fire and Emergency, and contractors came to residents' aid and work was now being done to try realign the Reservoir Creek and stop further water coming down, Choat said.

Further down Hill St, towards the southern end, a further creek overflowed into properties and onto the Street after a slip high up in the rangers behind Hillplough Heights.

Rocks, mud, a massive stream of water and forest debris all came down leaving a devastating mess to be cleaned up. Residents and people just coming to help were out later in the morning trying to clean up.

A terrible slip in the hills behind Richmond for Residents to cope with

Civil Defence Nelson Tasman said on Facebook on Saturday morning there'd now been 508 homes evacuated since the floods began, with evacuations up by about 100 overnight, and many roads around the region are closed.

Also in Richmond overnight flooding took place in Washbourn Gardens leaving flower beds washed out, the duck pond at the bottom of a large deep oval area made to collect flood water was destroyed. The flood water over flowed this area washing through the garden car park and further on behind the Tasman District Council building down into Oxford St, Richmond leaving debris everywhere.

Part of Washbourn Gardens Richmond. The duck pond has gone.

The area affected by flooding had broadened thanks to the overnight rain, Civil Defence Nelson Tasman said on Facebook.

"That includes the Cannan-Upper Takaka area and the Richmond ranges from Wairoa to Hira. There's lots of surface water in both Nelson, Richmond, Brightwater and the rest of Tasman.

Many residents will not be able to return home because of the devastating effects of the flood waters and slips. Crop growers and farmers throughout the region have had crops destroyed and pasture ruined plus farmers are finding it hard to manage their stock.

The $200,000 grant by the Government to the mayoral fund is a terrible insult and so are statements like one in a hundred year event. Speak to any person in Golden Bay or the West Coast and they will tell you they are having these events every three years or less.