Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
Media Release
For immediate release

Event: Tornado Emergency in Taranaki
Media release no: 8
Date/Time: 1200 hrs 6 July 2007

Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency
Emergency service clean-up under way

The Taranaki Disaster Relief Fund has been set up for donations of money through any branch of BNZ Bank.

Power is out at the Rahotu water treatment plant. The plants at Kapuni (which services the towns of Hawera, Normanby, Okiawa and Ohawe) and Okato are operating again, but residents are asked to please continue to conserve water over the weekend while the reservoirs refill.

More than 2600 consumers have lost power throughout South and Coastal Taranaki. Electricity services are working to restore power, but the public should treat all lines as being live.

People in these areas should be prepared to be without power for up to 24 hours.

If you have any medical concerns at all while your power is off you should ring your doctor or medical practitioner, or in the case of an emergency ring 111 for an ambulance. If you have lost power and have a specific medical need that makes you dependent on power supply, please follow the back-up instructions provided by your usual health care team and contact them for further advice or support as required.

In North Taranaki the power has been restored to most homes.

Powerco is conducting an aerial survey of its network to identify the extent of the problem, the results of which are expected around lunchtime.

If farmers have any problems with power supplies for milking or stock control they should contact Powerco on 0800 769 372.

Civil Defence enquiries should go to 0800 736 222. If people need welfare assistance or are under stress they should call the Emergency Welfare number – 0800 779 997.

People in Oakura that have been affected by the storm and may require welfare assistance of any kind - such as food, clothing, Victim Support etc - are encouraged to register at the Oakura Welfare Centre at the Oakura Bowling Club when convenient. Even if this is not urgent, people should still have it on their list of things to do.

“What we don’t want is someone in towns or rural areas sitting back thinking they won’t make a fuss because their problems aren’t as big as others’,” says Taranaki Civil Defence Group Controller Graham Young.

“If you need any help, are under stress or have problems that are affecting you, call the free emergency welfare number."

Mr Young thanks the large number of volunteers who have turned up in Oakura to help out, and advises that no further help is required.

Large skip bins are available at the Pony Club car park in Oakura for residents to dispose of debris, and a skip bin will be installed beside Normanby School by mid-afternoon.

For any emergencies the number is 111.

These briefings are posted at www.trc.govt.nz.

CDEM Group Controller Graham Young

ENDS

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