The Wairarapa Emergency Operations Centre is no longer active, with the region’s emergency response transitioning to a recovery phase on Monday night.
EOC controller Steve May said the deactivation was appropriate, given there was no longer a threat to life or property from Cyclone Gabrielle.
He said a recovery plan was currently in development, noting the role of councils during the next phase would be to facilitate communication with ‘response partners’ including emergency services, Federated Farmers, East Coast Rural Support Trust, and government agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development, and the Ministry of Primary Industries.
May said staff from Masterton District Council’s building team were carrying out assessments at homes affected by the extensive flooding yesterday.
“Staff from the community development team are also in the Tinui area assessing welfare needs.”
Meanwhile, council contractors were working hard to repair rural roads, with regular updates on the council website, May said.
“There continue to be multiple hazards on roads, with slips still moving, and the message remains to avoid unnecessary travel as this can delay repair work.”
During the cyclone, about 20 people self-evacuated, two people were provided with emergency accommodation, and three people went to Whareama School.
May said food continued to be made available to Tinui residents at the community hub in the Tinui Hall, but he expected it would wind down by the end of the week.
Food had also been provided to Castlepoint and Mataikona during the cyclone response, and medication was delivered to more than 10 people, by Wellington Free Ambulance.
Meanwhile, Minister for Emergency Management and Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty announced yesterday that the Government would contribute $75,000 to the Wairarapa Mayoral Relief Fund.
He said the funding would be distributed to those in need in Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa.
The contribution was part of $1.7 million given to various Mayoral Relief Funds set up by councils of affected districts.
“The devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle is immense, and there’s no escaping the fact that life on the ground in the affected areas is really tough,” McAnulty said.
He said communities and councils understand where the immediate needs are and how to help whanau, community organisations and marae, and the funding will assist them in these efforts.
He said the contributions would help ensure that support for recovery gets to those who need it most, as quickly as possible.
On Monday, Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Transport Minister Michael Wood announced funding of $250m to help Waka Kotahi NZTA and local councils to assess and fix roads and $50m to deliver interim emergency business and primary sector support.
Additionally, Inland Revenue support was available, including interest write-offs, tax concessions for donated trading stock, and an extension of research and development tax incentive filing deadlines.
The Government has also committed an initial $4m through the Ministry of Primary Industries.
