Early morning high tide causes problems in Hawke’s Bay

The early morning high tide caused a number of problems in Hawke’s Bay as Cyclone Pam continued to make its presence felt in the region.

Situation:

• • High tide at 3am this morning caused a number of problems from Clifton to Clive (south of Napier) with large seas overtopping the coastal berm damaging and flooding properties.
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• • The NZ Fire Service, including Cyclone Pam Task Force trucks from Wellington, assisted Hastings District Council Civil Defence staff and volunteers to respond where required.
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Impacts:

• • There was extensive damage to the road into Clifton Motor Camp with some flooding.
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• • There is some property damage along Clifton Road at Haumoana with the Fire Service helping with flooding in some properties.
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• • At 5am Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management became aware that the pumps at the Haumoana estuary at the mouth of the Tukituki River were struggling to cope with the water flowing from the overtopped foreshore berm.
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• • Large seas also overtopped the bund at Waimarama Domain flooding the surf club. There is also debris on the roads by the boat ramp and Tiakitia Road.
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• • Some surface flooding at the Westshore Domain from the overtopped foreshore berm.
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• • All immediate risks have passed and all people are safe.
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Actions:

• • Occupants of the Clifton Camps (most of them permanent residents) were moved to high ground as a precaution over the high tide period. Some occupants of the Te Awanaga Motor Camp were also moved to higher ground.
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• • HBRC staff have installed an additional pump and are managing the surface water at the Haumoana estuary.
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• • NZ Fire Service assisted in pumping out the bottom story of a dwelling in Haumoana.
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• • Civil Defence Emergency Management staff and volunteers continued to maintain contact with local residents overnight.
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Future Intentions:

• • Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group will continue to monitor the situation.
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• • Hastings District Council Emergency Management staff will monitor high tide at 3.24 this afternoon.
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