Whanganui rain event update #8
Published on 05 April 2017
3.30pm Wednesday 5 April 2017
A state of emergency for Whanganui was declared at 6.00 pm on Tuesday 4 April.
The latest information from Horizons Regional Council is that the Whanganui River at Pipiriki is forecasted to reach 12.6 metres at 2.00am tomorrow, Thursday 5 April 2017.
This is likely to result in an 8 metre peak at Whanganui City Bridge at 8.15am tomorrow morning, Thursday, 6 April 2017.
This means Kowhai Park stop banks may overtop, resulting in possible flooding in low lying areas.
Evacuations began in low lying areas of Anzac Parade and Putiki from 12.30pm today and aim to be complete by 4.00pm this afternoon. Civil Defence Controller Stuart Hylton says evacuations have gone well.
“At this point, approximately 170 people from 112 individual residences have reported to either our Whanganui Girls College or St Paul’s Church. A number of these people will have self-evacuated. Our welfare centres are in full swing.”
Residents who have been advised to evacuate by Civil Defence are asked to make their way to the Civil Defence Centres at either Whanganui Girls College, Jones Street, Whanganui East or St Paul’s Church in Guyton Street.
If people have already self-evacuated, we ask you to please register with a Civil Defence Centre by calling (06) 349 0001 or go in person to Whanganui Girls College in Jones Street or St Paul’s Church in Guyton Street to let the welfare team know.
The affected areas of Anzac Parade and Taupo Quay have been cordoned off and security will be in place over night.
Local road information
Taupo Quay, from Wilson Street to Victoria Avenue, and from Victoria Avenue to Guyton Street is closed. Cordons and security personnel will be put in place in this area and sandbags have been installed.
Dublin Street Bridge will remain open.
Whanganui City Bridge is open, except to heavy traffic which is advised to use the Cobham Bridge.
State Highway information
State Highway 4 is closed along Anzac Parade between Hakeke Street and Purua Street and closed from the Whanganui River Road/State Highway 4 intersection to Raetihi.
State Highway 3 is open
Please refer to www.nzta.govt.nz for more information on state highway roading conditions. For local road conditions, please visit www.whanganui.govt.nz
Schools
The Ministry of Education has advised that all schools in the Whanganui District should be open tomorrow except for Whanganui Girls College, which is being used as a Civil Defence Centre.
Slips
There may be a number of other roads closed throughout our district due to surface flooding and slips. Please refer to www.nzta.govt.nz for more information on state highway
roading conditions. For local road conditions, please visit www.whanganui.govt.nz
Parks
All Whanganui District Council sports grounds are closed.
Health
If you evacuating, please take your medications with you.
Further information