Our Opinion – Be careful what you wish for

This past week, subtropical Cyclone Vaianu swept across the North Island, causing flooding, high winds and damage in some areas and, in others, little more than bad weather.

Ahead of the storm, Civil Defence and weather services issued regular forecasts and warnings, advising people to prepare for a storm system that had potential to cause significant damage.

Fortunately for Auckland, the system tracked further east, making landfall in the Bay of Plenty. According to weather service WeatherWatch, a low-pressure zone near Auckland also helped buffer the region from some of the stronger winds.

And that is the nature of storms and geography, especially in a maritime nation like New Zealand. Our mountains, valleys and the vast ocean surrounding us mean the behaviour of storms like Vaianu is often a best guess.

However, the best predictor of future behaviour is the past. When the ground is already saturated, and with recent events still fresh such as the fatal landslip in Mt Maunganui, Cyclone Gabrielle which devastated communities across the East Cape and killed 11 people, and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods that claimed four lives and caused widespread damage, Civil Defence and emergency services will always follow the precautionary principle.

The consistent message was to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. So for those posting on social media that the storm was a “fizzer”, what exactly were you hoping for? More death and destruction?

Yes, supermarkets were packed for a few hours, but they are just as busy at Easter and Christmas. Any time shops close for more than a day, Kiwis tend to stock up. Living in a rural area, I know that even in an average storm there is a high chance of losing power, so my emergency kit is always up to date.

It is hard to understand why people complain about being asked to be prepared when we have lived through many severe weather events and know how unpredictable storms can be. It is not a huge sacrifice to stay home on a rainy day, read a book or watch TV, while others deal with flood damage or wait for power to be restored.

Be thankful Vaianu moved east, and one thing is certain, there will be more storms. But the better prepared we are, the more we can take them in our stride and reduce the impact on our lives, economy and wellbeing.

And perhaps show some gratitude for all the teams at Civil Defence and emergency services who work to keep us safe and are out in the worst of the weather when we need them most.

Be careful what you wish for, as you never know when you might be the one needing rescue.

Adrienne Kohler, editor