Historical emergencies

Landlsides led to the evacuation of the village of Waihi, Lake Taupo plus 2-3 houses not in village.

Declared at 0800 hrs for Putararu & Tirau Wards. Terminated at 1700 on 23/07. “Weather Bomb” caused extensive flooding. Main problems nil water supply, no power, resulting in a need to regulate water supply & consumption. Several roads closed, Kinleith branch railway line closed. Considerable damage to private properties, no evacuations.

Declared at 0303 hrs for District. Terminated at 1700 on 24/07. “Weather Bomb” caused extensive flooding, power failures, overloading of waste water systems. All flooding between midnight & 1240am. Some areas recorded highest rainfall ever per hour. 200 houses evacuated, 500 evacuees. SH 25 closed. One death- person swept to sea at Waiomu Motor camp. 14500 insurance claims as at 2 August 2002. Estimated at $25 million (highest ever linked to a disaster event in NZ).

Declared at 1711 for Thames - Coromandel District, Waihi and Paeroa Ward of Hauraki and Te Aroha Ward of Matamata-Piako. Terminated at 0915 for the outer wards and at 1500 for T-C. Cyclone Fergus. About 2000 displaced holiday-makers. About 350 in temporary accommodation. 1 death

Declared at 0940, terminated at 1700 next day. Cyclone Drena. About 140 evacuated at Moanatairi. 3 deaths.

Declared at 2115 for Thames Ward, Plains Ward. Terminated at 1530. There were 30 people evacuated. About 200 insurance claims. Damage put at $4 million. (A combination of rain and high tide).

Cyclone Bola. 84 evacuees

A bush fire above Thames in the night required evacuation of some 130 people for several hours. (Declared 0400)

4 deaths. 170 evacuated in Te Aroha, some at Thames. Insurance claims excluding EQC totalled $9.4m (1994)