Boat rescue for 100 residents

Press, 14 September 1988, Page 1

Boat rescue for 100 residents

Boats were used by the police and Army personnel to take about 100 residents from the Preston Road area of Greymouth yesterday morning as floodwaters invaded homes. Many of those moved had also been moved in the May floods. Rescuers then began moving people from the low-lying areas of Cobden on the opposite side of the Grey River. By early afternoon the Greymouth Central Police Station in Guinness Street had to be cleared when water entered. The police moved headquarters to the Greymouth R.S.A. Hall in upper Tainui Street, which was also being used as a base for evacuees. The State of Emergency covered a wider area than the declaration in May, which was confined to Greymouth Borough. Although initial indications suggested the flooding would not be as bad, this was quickly reassessed yesterday morning when water began trickling over the Greymouth wharf at its lower end about three hours before the noon high tide. Floodwaters began backing up through the stormwater system. This caused initial surface flooding in the low-lying areas of Greymouth. Bv early morning Pre ston Road residents were being told by the police to move out. Cobden residents in low-lying

parts of that suburb had been saved by a new river wall in May, but this time found Range Creek had flooded. Just before 11 a.m. the police broadcast instructions for residents to leave homes in Nelson Quay, Peel Street, lower Richmond Street, lower Sturge Street, lower Newcastle Street, and the western ends of Bright Street and Fox Street. Evacuation centres were arranged at the Cobden School and at Greymouth High School. Westport appeared to have escaped with only surface flooding. Westland Catchment Board authorities and staff of the Inangahua County Council were monitoring the levels of the Buller River. The Mokihinui River, north of Westport, burst its banks during the day and flowed across the road • leading to Seddonville, 50km north-east of Westport. The waters threatened two Seddonville houses at one stage. The railway link to the West Coast is cut at Kotuku. Hokitika Airport is closed. The provincial president of West Coast Federated Farmers, Mr Paul Berry, said farmers would be unable to assess damage until river levels fell, but he believed there was further damage to stopbanks. Mr Berry, who farms at Atarau in the Grey Valley, said some farmers had begun lambing, and there would be losses.