Update: Dairy Flat is badly flooded in parts and residents are doing what they can to help each other and the animals while remaining within their bubble. Parts of Orewa are also flooded.
The Hibiscus Coast appears to have so far escaped the worst of the current storm, which has caused a large amount of flooding west of the city.
Trampolines seem to have remained safely tethered and flooding localised although some trees may yet topple with the combination of soft soil and wind gusts.
Manly volunteer fire brigade’s chief fire officer, Shayne Kennedy, reports he “had a good long sleep” with not one callout last night, as wind and rain hammered at the windows and roofs of local homes.
Silverdale senior station officer Jim Maclean says a crew is assisting Red Beach residents, on the former golf course land, with flooding around their home. He says water has drained off a hill behind the house threatening to come inside but that it is a localised patch affected.
He says a smaller than normal crew is sent under Level 4 rules. As the firefighters have to break their bubble, they have strong protocols in place to keep everyone safe, such as avoiding indoor contact and mask-wearing.
“It also means things we may normally do to help people out, such as mopping up water, we may not be able to do,” he says. “If that kind of assistance breaks the lockdown rules, we consider what is possible based on the risk/benefit.”
Jim says while west Auckland has borne the brunt of the storm, the Coast may not remain unscathed.
“We have missed the drama so far, but nature is letting us know that we’ve got an invite to the same party,” he says. “At least it’s filling everyone’s tanks and the dams,” he says.
The MetService rain radar shows the low-pressure system circling Auckland. It is currently predicting a further 60-90mm of rain may fall today.
“It’s still out there, so watch this space,” Jim says.
Hibiscus Matters is not able to get out and about to bring you photos of any local storm damage. What’s happening at your place? Any photos can be posted on our Facebook page to help provide a full picture of any effects.
