Dunedin's community groups are banding together to help the city recover from severe flooding.
The area was hammered by torrential downpour over 24 hours yesterday with around 175mm of rain flooding rest homes, schools, homes and businesses.
Dunedin City Council (DCC) has classified the deluge as a "one in a 100 year flood" and slips continue to give council workers a headache today.
DCC roading maintenance manager Peter Standring says Taiaroa Head has been cut off and crews have been out since daybreak.
"There's quite a number but we're focusing on main arterials and where commuter traffic is going to be later on, and trying to get that clear."
One slip caught out two drivers in the dark last night, leaving both in the bottom of a hole.
Local man Warren Morris received an urgent message from one of the victims soon after it happened.
"He just said he ended up in there - no injuries - he just gave a brief detail of where the slips were," he says.
Another local, Chris Callaghan, had a sleepless night as his home was inundated with water.
"[With] the wake of the 4WDs and the continuous big trucks coming through, it just surged up and under the house," he says. "It was quite scary for the whole family."
Further north, the rush of the water over a hill in North East Valley left a house sitting precariously above a slip with its foundations exposed.
Owner Marty Duffy is now trying to clear the two tonnes of earth blocking his driveway.
"The rain coming from up on Pine Hill went under the house and slowly washed everything away and it all just took off at once," he says.
"[I've] just got to wait and see what happens, whether they write the house off or pay me out or whatever. I don't know, it's just on hold now."
Pumping activities were still underway in southern parts of the city earlier today and the Southern District Health Board has set up an emergency operations centre to support its staff and patients. The roads remain hazardous and locals are advised to drive to the conditions.
Red Cross has set up welfare and disaster teams around the city, handing out bedding and tarpaulins and helping displaced people to get somewhere safe.
The Salvation Army is also on board and has started dropping off food parcels to the South Dunedin Presbyterian Church on King Edward St.
DCC is encouraging anyone who wants to help to get in touch with them on (03) 477 4000 or post to a 'Dunedin Volunteers' Facebook group.
Locals are taking advantage of the page and offering their homes and beds to affected locals.
Road Closures at 5:30pm:
- Portobello Rd from Portobello and Weir Rd;
- Highcliff Rd from Camp Rd to Portobello;
- Scroggs Hill Rd from Law Rd to McMaster Rd;
- Saddle Hill Rd down to one lane in places due to slips;
- Queens Dr from Chamberlain St to Como St;
- Riccarton Rd from SH87 to Tirohanga Rd;
- Portobello Rd from Beaconsfield to Beaconsfield Rd;
- Gladstone Rd South from McGlashan St to Riccarton Rd;
- Waitati Valley Rd from the ford at RP6800 to end;
- McIntosh Rd from Waitati Valley Rd;
- Miller Road from Waitati Valley Rd;
- Gladfield Rd from Bush Rd to Dukes Rd;
- Flagstaff/Whare Flat Rd from Pineapple Track to Silverstream Valley Rd
3 News
source: newshub archive
