Auckland City Council prepares to receive information from emergency services as New Zealand’s largest city wakes up to flooding chaos.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown declared a state of emergency in the Auckland region on Friday evening. The announcement came hours after torrential rain, flash flooding and mass evacuations.
It also came after a body was found on Auckland’s north coast. Police have not yet confirmed whether the death is related to flooding.
Council told Stuff this morning that we are waiting for information from emergency services so that a response plan can be built.
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* Police are investigating a body found in Wairau Valley, Auckland
* ‘Pandemonium’: Elton John concert canceled after torrential rain
It is not yet known which areas have been hit hardest.
The Council warns people that this is “not an exact science” and that Auckland is a “big region”, but daylight will help establish the facts – which will “unfold much this morning”.
Delivered
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown signs a state of emergency in response to widespread flooding on Friday, January 27.
Brown made the announcement shortly before 10:30 p.m. Friday, followed by an impromptu press conference at 11:15 p.m. — the first of its kind in Brown’s mayoralty.
The announcement came hours after torrential rain, flash flooding and mass evacuations.
It also came after a body was found on Auckland’s north coast. Police have not yet confirmed whether the death is related to flooding.
Speaking to the press, Brown said he had been in his office “all night” to receive updates on the situation.
“I made this emergency report immediately after being advised to do so by the inspector on duty.
RICKY WILSON/Zo
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown held an impromptu press conference late Friday night to explain his decision to declare the flooding in Auckland an emergency.
“It wouldn’t have been appropriate for me to act before that point,” said Brown.
Brown also used the press conference as an opportunity to criticize the speed of the emergency response.
“There has been speculation that I could have acted sooner, but I couldn’t.
“This is a formal process… it should not be taken lightly. I listened to the professionals in the field.”
He said as soon as he got the green light to declare a state of emergency, he did.
“My role is not to run out with buckets, it’s to be here to make sure the center is well organized and we take the right steps at the right time – not to rush them in response to noise Outside.”
Lawrence Smith/Stuff
Flooding in West Auckland as families evacuate from their homes.
Brown warned Aucklanders have “a big, big job” ahead of them to respond to Saturday’s widespread flooding.
He said he will be out on Saturday to assess the damage.
Brown’s initial statement said the emergency declaration “reflected the extent of damage, displacement and disruption caused by tonight’s severe weather and will allow emergency services and emergency services to deploy resources and exercise additional powers to assist affected Aucklanders to stand”.
The statement also said the region has suffered widespread damage from flooding and torrential rain, with reports of slippage and flooding, and that both infrastructure and emergency services have been overwhelmed.
ROBERT KITCHIN/Zo
Mount Roskill Labor MP Michael Wood described the situation in Auckland as “extremely serious”, but the decision to declare a civil defense emergency rested with the mayor.
“We want to ensure that all residents are kept informed and that emergency services can reach the most vulnerable and at-risk groups as quickly as possible. Don’t put yourself in danger,” Brown said.
Earlier, Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said Brown had declared a state of emergency, but Auckland Emergency Management and Brown have yet to communicate such news.
So told Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Ward Councilor Josephine Bartley Stuff she hoped the mayor’s office would communicate with the public quickly.
Bartley read an email Stufffrom the mayor’s office, saying that Brown had signed the state of emergency and that it will be communicated “soon”.
Jason Dorday/Stuff
The extent of damage caused by Friday’s flooding is not yet known, Brown said.
Earlier, Mount Roskill Labor MP Michael Wood said the decision to declare a civil defense emergency ultimately rested with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown.
Wood said on social media that government ministers had met over the flash floods that led to mass evacuations.
Wood described the situation as “extremely serious” and that “a formal statement is with the mayor”.