Wairoa locals had been doubly affected by flooding as well as the deaths of three boaties and its effects would linger, Napier MP Katie Nimon says.
Nearly 200 homes were damaged by flooding after heavy rains and three fishermen died at sea during this week's storm.
Katie says locals were working hard to help each other even while many have damage in their own homes to address.
"It's been awesome to see the community band together and help each other out."
She would discuss with the Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, what resources were available to support people's wellbeing, she says.
Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell has already announced the government would contribute $300,000 to the Mayoral Relief Funds to help communities in Hastings, Wairoa and Tai Rāwhiti.
He would be going to appeal to Cabinet next week for extra funding to support the town's clean up and recovery.
Locals starting to clean up after the flooding. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone.
Katie says the government was working with insurers and local council to understand the best way to assist people.
"It's really important for us to see what's going to be covered by insurance, what's not.
"Ministers are working really hard to take a paper to Cabinet to get what we can to get the clean-up started, so council knows what can be done without having to worry about where it falls," she says.
Meanwhile, roading contractors and damage assessors are working through Matariki weekend after severe flooding in Hawke's Bay and Tai Rāwhiti.
A state of emergency was in place for the settlement of Haumoana from Tuesday to Thursday, as high seas pounded the coastline and dozens of people were evacuated.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says there had been damage in the area which remained vulnerable after Cyclone Gabrielle 18 months ago.
"We have a lot of slips so everyone's working really hard, some of the work will be programmed for later on but looking after the immediate over the weekend."
On the region's roads, Thursday's slip that partially blocked one lane of State Highway two between Gisborne and Napier has been cleared, and the road is open.
1 comment
The Master
Posted on 29-06-2024 14:24 | By Ian Stevenson
Sadly the East-Coast is hit again... this is merely history repeating over/over again. Different areas maybe hit each time but all are hit sometime. It's simply the fact of it, revealed by any objective historical review.
Perhaps the basics are lost on many, when building a house on a flood plain (called that because it floods...often) is to have 1+m piles under the house so as above most floods/flooding. bad idea to have these concrete slab @ ground level houses as currently built in recent decades... the old-timers knowledge was obviously a little better than current schemes to save build costs.
The majority of flooded houses throughout any area must be: -
- At least 1+m piles
- Don't build in low-lying areas or in areas where water ponds in a flood
- Avoid excess sloped areas below/above.
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