Media advisory: Napier flood update Date 10/11/20, 1pm

BUILDING ASSESSMENTS 
Assessments have started on Napier homes affected by last night’s flooding. Urban Search and Rescue squads from Palmerston North and Wellington are working with Napier City Council teams to assess land slips on Napier Hill. People are asked to be patient as the assessment crews work to get in touch with all affected residents.  
 
IF YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO EVACUATE 
 
Stay with family or friends if you can 
Take your medication and essential items such as hearing aids 
Take your pets with you and take pet food and leashes  
If you have no-one to stay with, phone 0800 422 923 to get help 
Emotional support: 
If you are feeling anxious or frustrated, talk with friends, family and whānau. 
If you need a counsellor, call or text 1737. 
 
ROAD CONDITIONS 
 
Avoid non-essential travel. Don’t drive through floodwaters as this creates bow waves that can flood people’s houses.  Napier City Council is updating a list of road closures and it will be released as soon as possible. 
 
DRINKING WATER 
 
Napier City Council’s Chief Executive Keith Marshall says there is no evidence of water contamination in Napier and at this stage no need to issue a boil water notice. 
He says testing of the water will be on-going today and as a purely precautionary measure, Napier City Council has added more chlorine to the drinking water supply. 
Hawke’s Bay DHB’s Medical Officer of Health Dr Nick Jones agrees that Napier City Council’s water staff are taking all the appropriate steps to investigate any issues with the water supply. 
Dr Jones says he supports the council increasing the chlorine dosage to the water supply as a precautionary measure.  “We are working closely with Napier City Council and Civil Defence and we will update with more information if the situation changes." 
 
POWER OUTAGES 
 
See https://www.unison.co.nz/outages for the latest information. 
 
WEATHER FORECAST 
 
Metservice is predicting more rain from this afternoon through to early Wednesday morning. At this stage the forecast intensity is not expected to cause serious issues. We will be monitoring the situation. Visit www.metservice.com for the latest information.  Find out more here
 
WASTEWATER 
 
Napier’s wastewater system has been overloaded by the torrential rain. Napier City Council is asking Napier to keep their household wastewater to a minimum. DO NOT take baths or flush toilets unless absolutely necessary, keep showers short and put off running the dishwasher until the flooding clears.  
 
HEALTH AND SAFETY 
 
Floodwaters can carry bugs that cause disease from the ground surface and sewerage systems. Do not eat any food that has been in contact with floodwaters, including fruit and vegetables from your garden. Keep children away from floodwater and puddles.  
 

10 November 2020

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