22 July 2004
Emergency status to remain
The Civil Defence Emergency will remain in place in the Whakatane District until Friday 23 July 2004 at 4:00 pm when it
will be further reviewed.
The reasons for the extension are:
There are a large number of buildings underwater. There are continuing problems with slips. A complete assessment of the
level of risk has not been completed.
Thanks to Army and Air Force
The Whakatane District Council wishes to thank the New Zealand Army and Air Force for their outstanding effort and
assistance in rescuing people over the first five days of this emergency. Now that the nature of the emergency has
changed, there is little more these services can do to help and they've been withdrawn to their home bases. They are,
however, still on call and, should the situation change, they will come straight back.
Thanks to Volunteers
The Civil Defence Controller advises that thanks to the outstanding efforts of volunteers in the Awatapu region who
assisted with the drainage pipes and manned the pumps throughout the night, the streets of Awatapu are now free of water
and people can return to secure their properties.
Inspectors are going from house-to-house and have completed inspections in all streets of Awatapu except Thompson
Crescent and Ratima Place, which should be completed by 4:30 pm today. Inspectors are also working in the Edgecumbe
area.
Access to schools
Access to all schools has been reinstated. For those schools on Whakatane District Council reticulated water and
sewerage services, these too have been reinstated.
However, the decision to open or close schools remains the responsibility of the school.
ENDS