Historical emergencies

Declared at 0750, lifted at 1310 same day. A slip off the north face of Mt Adams occurred at 0330hrs on 6 October 1999 depositing 10-15 million cu.metres of debris in the Poerua river valley, blocking the river and creating a lake 1.2km long and over 80metres deep. The lake overtopped after 2 days of heavy rain caused the dam to breach at about 0745 on 12 October. 46 people were evacuated as water moved through the valley. Resultant damage was minimal despite aggregation raising the river bed substantially.

Declared at 1147, lifted at 1609 same day. A small number of self evacuations were carried out.

Declared at 1800, lifted 1200 next day. Declaration by Mayor for whole district. Purpose: to assist Emergency Services in evacuating properties. 40 properties & in excess of 200 people evacuated; 2 houses destroyed by fire; 1 person died from heart attack - shock of event; many farm buildings, fences & numbers of livestock were destroyed by fire. No actual costs.

Declared at 0858; DRC appointed. Impact in Hokianga area: 4 communities severely affected; 270 people evacuated; 80 in emergency accommodation; 96 sections damaged; 75 houses damaged; 3 houses destroyed. Est. cost impact $4.3m.

Declared at 0630; lifted 1400 next day. Declaration to facilitate evacuation of 62 residential properties & 45 commercial premises threatened by possible overtopping of the stopbanks of the Whanganui River. 75 evacuees; 24 in motel accommodation. Stopbanks not breached although some localised inundation occurred.

Declared at 0800. This time 50-60 houses evacuated, 1 death. Lifted 0730.

Declared at 1630, lifted 1355 next day. A replay of the previous week, 220 evacuated, 20 houses flooded through (12 at Seddonville, 1 at Mohikinui, 4 at Karamea and 3 at Waimare.

Declared at 0105, lifted 1300 next day; 13 houses evacuated in Otaihanga area of Waikanae.

Declared at 2230, lifted 1340 next day. Karamea: 7 houses inundated; 66 people evacuated. Seddonville: 6 homes & hotel evacuated. Waimare: 3 baches evacuated.

Declared at 1711 for Thames - Coromandel District, Waihi and Paeroa Ward of Hauraki and Te Aroha Ward of Matamata-Piako. Terminated at 0915 for the outer wards and at 1500 for T-C. Cyclone Fergus. About 2000 displaced holiday-makers. About 350 in temporary accommodation. 1 death

Declared at 1900, terminated at 2100 next day. About 166 people evacuated at Nuhaka after flooding and power failure associated with storm. DRC appointed for 14 days

Declared at 0205, terminated at 0820. About 200 residents evacuated from Stratheona and Butlers Crossing when 40 metre Opuha Dam overfilled and failed releasing 13 x 106m3 of water. Normal flow of the Opuha 30-40 cumecs, peaked at 1500 cumecs.

Declared at 0940, terminated at 1700 next day. Cyclone Drena. About 140 evacuated at Moanatairi. 3 deaths.

Declared at 2115 for Hakataramea. 7 houses evacuated (17 people). River peaked at 3300 cumecs (mean flow at Waitaki Dam is 350). Terminated at 0802 on 18th.

Declared at 0001 for Omarama, lifted at 0800. 35 evacuated.

Declared at 2115 for Thames Ward, Plains Ward. Terminated at 1530. There were 30 people evacuated. About 200 insurance claims. Damage put at $4 million. (A combination of rain and high tide).

Declared at 2115, lifted at 1320. One house evacuated at Mohikinui and 2 at Seddonville (5 people)

Declared at 1800, lifted at 1200. 157 evacuated from 82 households.

Three declarations, Waimate 1022-0900. Timaru 0930-1227, Mackenzie 1357-1745. About 240 evacuees across the 3 districts. Losses estimated at $5.5 million including about $3 million damage to state highways