Campers cope well with wind and water

Press, 4 January 1980, Page 3

Campers cope well with wind and water

. Camping grounds in Christchurch yesterday were drenched and showed little sign of activity after Wednesday night’s storm had caused havoc for hundreds of unprepared campers. Tents and awnings were ripped, trees felled, branches and debris littered camp sites, and low-lying areas were flooded. A woman was injured when a tree fell on a caravan at Rawhiti Domain, and few managed to survive the night without a thorough drenching. Many campers abandoned their tents during the storm and went home; others packed their belongings and left yesterday morning. At some camping grounds as many as half of the campers had left as rain continued to fall yesterday afternoon, although those who had booked sites for longer periods were expected to return when the weather improved. Most of the camping grounds were full for the Christmas holidays when the wind and rain started falling on Wednesday.

Spencer Park camping ground was one of the worst hit. Camp sites there were without electricity from 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday until 4 a.m. yesterday. The park’s manager (Mr A.' A. Adcock) said it was the worst January storm he had seen at the park since he became manager 19 years ago. The camp sites were littered with tree branches and leaves, although no big trees had fallen and there had been no significant damage to the grounds. Mr Adcock was not aware of any serious damage to campers’ equipment. Some campers spent the night in the recreation hall and others sheltered in the television room. About one-

third of the campers had left either during the storm or yesterday morning. Many had left tents and caravans and would return today. Mr Adcock was impressed by' the way campers had “pitched in” to help those in difficulty during the storm. Campers who remained dry had made room in their tents and caravans for the more unfortunate campers, and one caravan owner who returned : to Christchurch during the i night, left his keys with park I staff so that his caravan could be used if needed. Campers and local residents also received praise from the managers of other camping grounds which were buffeted by the storm. The manager of the Kairaki Beach camping ground (Mr M. F. Bellam), said “everyone was up and about all night helping one another.” One Kaiapoi resident had offered to open his house to campers during the night. Mr Bellam said it was the

i worst flooding ne had seen at the camping ground for some years, and camp sites which he thought would never flood were ankle-deep in water. i Some campers were concerned during the night that i trees would fall on their ! tents and caravans, but apart I from a few ripped tents and awnings, no damage was Idone. Mr Bellam estimated That half of the campers had 'left by yesterday afternoon.: I Most were expected to return ■ when the weather improved. Two big trees had fallen at the Woodend Beach camping ground, one over an awning, but nobody was injured. The camp caretaker’s wife (Mrs R. Stempa) said it had been a

jterrifying night and everyone | was rushing about in confuision. Eight persons had spent (the night at the caretaker’s 1 residence. About one-third of the campers had left the {grounds by yesterday. I The .manager of the Wai'kuku Beach camping ground {(Mr G. Smith) praised local {residents for their support. {Some took campers Home for [the night, and other campers lhad spent the night in the {Waikuku Beach Hall. Half of I the camp had been without • power for two hours on Wednesday night. About onethird of the campers had gone home. Most power, telephones restored; Wellington battered. —Page 4.