“It takes me five to 10 minutes to get to town and by then police had closed the road and the water was starting to subside.
“It was uncanny.”
He estimated that at least 20 businesses were affected by flooding.
MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley said there was another risk of afternoon and evening thunderstorms for Central Hawke’s Bay on Tuesday, as showers formed inland and moved towards the coast.
“Tomorrow [Wednesday], CHB can expect fine weather for most of the day.
“Some showers could form near the ranges, but the winds are not directing them out towards the coast like they have been today and yesterday.”
The flooding was quick to drain away. Photo / CHB Council
Pawley said the hour before yesterday’s downpour, 6.9mm of rain fell, then 11.2mm followed in the next hour, “which is decent heavy rain”.
Foley said the council would be looking at why the infrastructure around Waipukurau’s main shopping area struggled to cope.
“It was such an intense event, I’m not sure if any infrastructure would have coped, but we will be looking at the drainage in that part of town.
“It’s certainly not what businesses need. Things aren’t great economy-wise as it is. This just adds to it.”
But he said it was cool to see how the community came together.
“The police responded quickly by closing the road, and council staff, contractors and members of the community all got on the end of a broom to help push water out of the shops.
“Next time I’ll take my own broom.”
Some businesses remain closed on Tuesday, including Cranford Hospice Opshop.
Cranford Hospice development and engagement director Carol-anne Stubbs said they were working as fast as they could to reopen.
“It happened so quickly.
“Thank goodness staff reacted quickly, moving larger items to dry ground, and the community was amazing, helping to sweep the water outside.
”We ask that the public be patient while we clean up and set up for business as usual.”
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.