Unison Provides Situation Update and Advice on How to Get Through

Monday 8 August, 2016 3pm

Key Update Information:

• Hawke’s Bay customers are still advised to prepare for a few days without power, as damage is extensive.

• Taupo Plains customers are advised to prepare for potentially longer than a week without power, as damage is extensive.

• A public community meeting is being held for Taupo Plains customers - Tuesday 9 August at midday – at Rangitaiki Tavern

• Unison is working with Higgins Contracting and Civil Defence to clear snow from secondary roads.

• Previous updates here

Hawke’s Bay specific – from HB Civil Defence

• HB Civil Defence has a clear picture of the situation in terms of customers without power, and is focussing on these areas for welfare assessment.

• They are working with dairy farmers for whom power is a priority, and this is being managed in coordination with Dairy NZ and Federated Farmers.

• Attention is also turning to the feed situation, with both Dairy NZ, and Beef and Lamb NZ assessing those needs.

• They are looking at general welfare requirements, particularly for vulnerable people. This includes assistance, including financial assistance for emergency accommodation (if evacuation is necessary) or special needs. Psychosocial needs will also be addressed through the CD response plans.

• Roading – the only access currently open to the Hawke’s Bay region is from the south (via Manawatu Gorge)

Taupo specific – from TDC CDEM

• Taupo District Council Civil Defence Emergency Management (TDC CDEM) is assessing the situation to identify needs as a basis for developing a response.

• TDC CDEM will attend the community meeting Unison has initiated on Tuesday at midday at the Rangitaiki Tavern. Federated Farmers are also looking to send representation.

Useful Advice:

• Affected customers are advised to look at their wider support networks and make arrangements where they can, including reaching out to rural support services and welfare support.

• Keep up with updates via Unison’s Facebook and Twitter pages, or call 0800 2 UNISON if you don’t have the internet. Unison has made contact with as many customers as it can directly, and are issuing email updates where it can.

• Safety first: Stay away from downed lines, poles and report any damage you come across to 0800 2 UNISON

• Anyone with any urgent welfare needs should contact HB Civil Defence through Hastings District Council on 06 871 5000

• Dairy NZ have issued an advisory note to affected customers in the Tutira and Patoka areas, and are advising customers to refer to information on their website:
http://www.dairynz.co.nz/farm/adverse-events/power-outages/ http://www.dairynz.co.nz/farm/adverse-events/missed-milkings/http://www.dairynz.co.nz/farm/adverse-events/flood/wet-weather-management/

• Rural Support Trusts help people and families in the wider rural community who experience an adverse event - climatic, financial or personal - to more effectively meet and overcome these challenges. Services are free and confidential. You can visit their website http://www.rural-support.org.nz/ or phone 0800 787 254

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