Families go home as floods recede

Press, 8 July 1986, Page 1

Families go home as floods recede

Six St Albans families were allowed to go back home last evening after being forced to move out when floodwaters threatened after persistent heavy rain in Christchurch. .The families faced having to stay the night with friends or relatives, but were allowed to return to their houses when floodwaters receded about 7.30 p.m.

Three houses in Carrick Street, one in Flockton Street, one in Edgeware Road, and one in Canon Street were evacuated between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Residents feared floodwaters could be pushed up by the swollen Dudley Creek at high tide later in the evening. However, the rain eased and water drained away steadily throughout the evening.

More showers are forecast, with widespread rain forecast for Banks Peninsula which could last another 24 hours.

Surface flooding was evident in most parts of Christchurch, with St Albans, Burwood, and Papanui being worst hit. . Although, .the Heathcote River fan high, there was only minor surface flooding on riverside properties.

Coastal areas throughout the rest of Canterbury experienced surface flooding on many roads and paddocks. Only a little water entered houses in St Albans, but water lapped the foundations of many houses, completely covering garden footpaths and driveways. A resident of Canon Street complained that waves created by sightseers’ cars were forc-

ing water into his house. Several cars being threatened by rapidly rising water throughout the afternoon were towed clear by Christchurch City Council trucks. Peak traffic in Christchurch last evening was disrupted when water damage caused some traffic signals to fail. The Ministry.of Transport reported more minor accidents than on most weekdays. A spokesman attributed this to motorists’ driving too fast and too close on wet '■ Surface flooding closed the road to Waikuku Beach last evening and Styx Mill Road had minor flooding.

Many schools throughout Christchurch were closed because of surface water on playing fields and near the entrances to buildings. No flood damage was reported inside any of the buildings. Most schools are expected to reopen today.