to download the April Issue of K1 - Raglan Operational Support Unit

8Storm dutyIt’s been the wet stuff, rather than the redstuff keeping firefighters busy during Marchwith two major storm systems hittingparticularly the northern half of the country.Some areas had the month’s rainfall in a fewhours and naturally the countryside becomeinundated by the run-off.There have been hairy moments in severalplaces including the rescue of Otaika womanwho got trapped in her car when the riveroverflowed the bridge she was crossing.When she scrambled from her vehicle, shewas swept away. Her neighbour in a kayak,and Te Kopuru firefighters in an inflatable,were able to rescue her from the riverbanktotatra tree she had been clinging to for 20minutes.Inflatable craft were also used aroundNgunguru as firefighters rescued familiesfrom homes engulfed in 1.5m floodwaters.Kaeo, which has been in the news severaltimes in the last couple of years with floods,was hit again with twice its normal monthlyrainfll dropping in a day.Taranaki and Wanganui were hit by bothstorms, and while the first was thought tohave caused at least $3.5 million in damage,the area got off lighter the second time round.While being in the vicintiy of Mt Taranakimeans they are used to rain, residents saidthe ferocity of the winds was surprising,demolishing building and destroying pineplantations by snapping trees off halfway up.Naturally volunteer brigades were very activein cleaning up roads, and fallen trees andpumping out flooded areas.The loss of power was a major problem fordairy farmers as it meant loss of water pumps,not just milking machinery. In some areas,volunteer brigades used their tankers to ferrywater to farms.Hutt Valley and Wainuiomata OperationalSuppport brigades pumped out and moppedup Fernlea School.Above: The South Islandwasn’t immune. Pumpingout the highway was one ofWeston’s callouts.onthejobBeing out and about i Taranaki wasdanegerous with roofing iron, and wholesheds, flying about.Left: Cleaning up fallentrees at Newlands.Photo – Stuff