Westport Floods photographed by Anita O Brien
Photo: supplied
Buller Emergency Operations Centre public information manager Lisa Glass said the final number of red-stickered homes was still being confirmed, but she expected it to be more than 100.
Glass said about 400 homes had been yellow-stickered, meaning they could be habitable once repairs were done and they were cleaned up.
The handful of people who have been staying in the last remaining emergency accommodation, set up at South School, are expected to be re-homed today. The civil defence welfare team have been helping out these people one at a time to make sure they will be safe and settled, Glass said.
They were found during inventory checks of old displays and had been safely disposed of. The operation saw the park closed for the day on Tuesday, with a childcare centre and a building at the nearby Whakatū Marae evacuated as a safety precaution. The park was reopened on Wednesday. The council s group manager, community services Andrew White thanked the Defence Force team and police for their work at the park. “We are grateful that we were able to review our collection and have the assistance of the EOD team so promptly, meaning Founders only had to be closed for a day.”
Mark said he would like to work with the airshow trust to help grow it into “New Zealand’s premier airshow” and expand its trade and educational offerings. “I think the event has enormous potential far beyond just being an airshow,” he said. “It’s time to take a fresh look at the event, what the aim and purpose is, what our objectives are. “When you’re running an event that you have to fundraise over a million dollars to put on . that lasts over three days and can go broke if the weather goes bad, you’ve really got to be clear as to why you’re doing it.”
Hon Kris Faafoi
The Government is contributing a further $1 million to help the flood battered Buller community, Acting Emergency Management Minister Kris Faafoi announced today.
“Buller is a small community which has found itself suddenly facing significant and ongoing welfare costs. While many emergency welfare costs are reimbursed by Government, this money will be made available to the district council for immediate use,” Kris Faafoi said.
“The council has been providing services to around 2000 people affected by the fierce downpour and expects continued support, especially for those unable to return to their homes, is likely to be needed for at least another fortnight, and possibly longer.
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