Canterbury Earthquake (Federated Farmers Sunday Afternoon Update)

Do you need assistance?

0800 FARMING (0800 327 646):
The farming community is now starting to get on top of the initial crisis and the 0800 number will be manned until 5pm. The 0800 number will resume at 0830 am tomorrow morning.

Federated Farmers Canterbury Field Officer:
Federated Farmers Field Officers, Vicky O'Connor and Mark Burnside, are now making contact with members and non-members in North Canterbury. They are additional resource available to coordinate with the 0800 327 646 freephone number. Vicky O'Connor can be contacted on 027 432 0218 and Mark Burnside on 027 442 3355.

Helping out our urban cousins:
Initial feedback is that Civil Defence has matters in hand but the offer has been made. The 0800 line is also receiving offers of accommodation that Federated Farmers is bringing to the attention of the Red Cross. if you can offer any assistance to our urban centres, please register that on 0800 327 646 (0800 FARMING).

Electricity update for the Orion network:
In the aftermath of the severe earthquake which hit central Canterbury yesterday, Orion has now restored power supply to approximately 95 percent of its customers. It will be the end of the day before we can give a more accurate estimate of when remaining power supplies will be restored. It is currently working in the rural areas of Highfield, Greendale and Brookside.

One of the reasons for the delays in some areas is that it has to thoroughly check its network equipment to ensure that further damage won’t be caused when we turn the power back on. It may be two to three days before power can be restored to some customers. In extreme cases, where a single home or business is still without power in an area where power has otherwise been restored, it may take four or five days

Orion has worked hard to engineer its network to be resilient in these kinds of events, and as a result, no major network assets were seriously damaged by the quake, meaning power has been restored reasonably rapidly in many areas. Due to the fact that none of its major equipment failed, customers still affected by power cuts are in pockets scattered across the network, rather than being concentrated in a few specific areas.

Grains update:
Any farmer with damaged silos needing to secure storage can contact 0800 327 646. For further advice please contact either Murray Rowlands on 027 242 9542 or David Clark 027 495 5202.

Generators:
Federated Farmers now has a number of offers for generators and appreciates the generosity of all those offering. The Dairy Industry Group reports that every cowshed in North Canterbury is now functioning with power, one way or another. Other farmers needing generators can call 0800 327 646.

Stock water:
Stock water remains an issue and if you need or can offer assistance with stock water, please call 0800 327 646.

Dairy update:
The Dairy Industry Group reports that every cowshed in North Canterbury is now functioning with power. DairyNZ‘s acting regional leader for Canterbury, Simon Sankey is available on 021 228 3446. Federated Farmers North Canterbury dairy chairperson, Kieran Stone, is available to offer advice on 027 558 8917 as well as Federated Farmers Dairy vice-chairperson, Willy Leferink, on 03 307 2666.

MetService weather warning:
The MetService has a weather warning for the Canterbury plains of northwesterlies reaching 65 km/h in exposed places, with gusts of 130 km/h - between 9am Sunday and 6am Monday. Farmers are advised to check for any loose material and are reminded the high winds may cause further damage to already compromised structures. For more information click here
or dial MetPhone FarmInfo on 0900 998 25 (calls cost $2.00).

Reporting damage:
If you do have damage, please make contact with the EQC on 0800 326 243 and take photographs of damaged property. If you consider any damage to be potentially life threatening, dial 111. If you can offer assistance or need assistance, please contact: 0800 327 646 (0800 FARMING)

ENDS

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