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Photo: Julia Sudnitskaya \/ 123RF\n<\/p>\n
Eighty evacuees are spending the night at Tolaga Bay Area School, which has been opened as a Civil Defence base because of heavy flooding in Tai R\u0101whiti.<\/p>\n
Surface flooding, slips and downed trees have led to the closure of State Highway 35 between Wainui Beach and Tolaga Bay.<\/p>\n
\u016aawa deputy Civil Defence officer Nori Parata told RNZ the rain<\/a> had been pretty torrential.<\/p>\n “We had to open up the base because there are a number of travellers that had got caught with the road closure, and also didn’t have appropriate vehicles for that kind of situation.<\/p>\n “But equally we also had the holiday camp [at Tolaga Bay] needed to evacuate people that were camping in tents down there.<\/p>\n “So I think we’ve got about 80 people in our gym between the travellers and the campers.”<\/p>\n Parata said there were plenty of mattresses in the school gym for evacuees and anyone caught out by the flooding, and the Civil Defence base was well-equipped with kai and other supplies.<\/p>\n “We’re set up to cater in these emergencies. This is not our first rodeo.”<\/p>\n Parata said the Tolaga Bay Holiday Park had just reopened this season after recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle three years ago.<\/p>\n On social media, Civil Defence said<\/a> the wharf bridge was “underwater and dangerous”.<\/p>\n “Do not go near it or try to cross. Please stay home, stay off the roads, and keep yourself safe.”<\/p>\n MetService lifted the thunderstorm warning for the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay areas just before 9.30pm.<\/p>\n “Severe thunderstorms have eased, however a few thunderstorms are still expected this evening bringing localised heavy rain.”<\/p>\n Orange heavy rain warnings were still in place, for Wairoa District until 3am on Sunday, and for Tair\u0101whiti until 8am.<\/p>\n Gisborne residents told to be prepared<\/p>\n Meanwhile Tair\u0101whiti Civil Defence is monitoring the situation in the city of Gisborne.<\/p>\n In a video message, the Tair\u0101whiti emergency management controller Ben Green said the focus was on the Taruheru River which flows through Gisborne City.<\/p>\n It was at 4.26m at 11pm, and the level of concern that posed a risk to low-lying properties was 4.5m, so it would be under monitoring overnight.<\/p>\n “What we’re asking people to do is adopt a ‘be prepared’ and cautious approach to really monitoring the river.<\/p>\n “If you haven’t already done so, check in with your neighbours. Make sure that they’re aware of what the current situation is. In the worst case if you do feel unsafe then, certainly, proactively evacuate if you are uncomfortable with that situation.”<\/p>\n Mr Green said Fire and Emergency was keeping people informed on Fergusson Drive and other low-lying streets.<\/p>\n He said people could sign up for text alerts<\/a> through the Gisborne District Council website.<\/p>\n