Weather: West Coasters flood alert, red heavy rain alert over area

After sandbag a day and prepare for the worstResidents of flood-threatening Westport and surrounding areas are being told to pack a bag for potential evacuations on Wednesday.

A regional state of emergency was declared on the west coast on Tuesday after a day of heavy rainfall and rising rivers. MetService for the area has issued a red warning for heavy rainfall.

Buller Deputy Mayor Sharon Roche said Tuesday evening the district is still expecting a significant amount of rain in the mountain ranges, which would eventually wash away the Buller River.

“The rainfall is constantly changing.”

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The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric (Niwa) warned that a “prolonged” atmospheric river landing on Tuesday could lead to “more than a month’s worth of rain” this week, especially in parts of the South Island.

Council and emergency services will be notified again Wednesday morning where they will receive updated models on rainfall and river flows, Roche said.

“Then we will consider whether we should evacuate parts of Westport or the region.”

Some Buller’s coastal communities may also see swells of up to 5 meters and gale-force winds from early Wednesday, she said.

“We’re really just advising people to be as ready as possible… [to] preparing their homes and businesses.”

She advised locals to contact vulnerable relatives and stay informed about the latest updates from the municipality.

“Goods plan for the worstbut hope for the best. We really have to wait and see what happens in the next 24 hours.”

Buller Civil Defense Controller Douglas Marshall said heavy machinery constructed additional dams, set up pumps and installed inflatable barriers to protect critical infrastructure.

He said residents in areas previously flooded should keep a bag packed in case their homes are evacuated. He urged people living in low-lying areas to make their own evacuation plans.

Marshall said 22,000 sandbags were available to residents on Wednesday.

Buller District Council and Civil Defense opened their emergency operations center on Monday and additional support staff and vehicles from the Police, St John Ambulance and Fire and Emergency were sent to the city.

In Westport, Alexandria Blackburn-Wood was one of many locals filling sandbags Tuesday morning.

She now lived in Brougham St, close to the Orowaiti River, but lived in Snodgrass during the July 2021 floods. an area prone to severe flooding.

“[It is] definitely a better place. We haven’t had a flood in this property yet, but we just want to make sure. I just hope the council has it under control.”

Blackburn-Wood and her partner had discovered they would be evacuated from their Snodgrass home while on duty last julyand they came home and found water “flowing through the property”.

North of Westport, Fire Chief Murray Watson and his team of local volunteers checked their water pumps and made sure they had enough supplies.

“It’s just about taking care of the community. It’s not always easy to get a backup [out here] — we often find ourselves on our own,” Watson said.

Watson was careful with the prediction, since it had already happened several large slips on the steep slope directly above Granity and Ngakawau townships in heavy rain earlier this year.

“The rivers are full of gravel. It won’t cost much… [But] we are pretty well prepared. It’s not something anyone really wants, but if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”

It would be the third flood in the region in just over a year.

floods July last year was the worst in the region in decades, leading to evacuations of nearly half of Westport and a three-week state of emergency. More floods in February this year again caused great damage and left the city cut off.