June 22

Emergency Operations Centre (Eoc) Activated

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) has activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to deal with the isolation of Pipiriki township that has been cut-off due to two major slips on the Pipiriki-Raetihi Rd.

The slips which are located at around the 15 to 17km point on the Pipiriki-Raetihi Rd are about half way between Raetihi and Pipiriki.

Council contractors have cleared their way into the first slip site but need access to both sites before a detailed engineering analysis can take place and decisions about whether establishing temporary access is possible.

RDC controller Margaret Hawthorne said that council has identified that there are 19 non-residents currently in Pipiriki made up of 11 adults and eight children and around 20 permanent residents.

“Council emergency response staff are in on-going in contact with the community about their needs,” she said.

“We have organised for helicopters to fly in medicines and emergency food supplies and fly out non-residents and others that need to leave for welfare reasons.”

“At this point we are planning to evacuate eight people made up of seven adults and one child.”

“The adult evacuees include three pregnant women.”

Mrs Hawthorne added that RDC was working closely with the Horizons and Wanganui District Councils in coordinating response efforts.

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