Preparations underway for this week's forecasted heavy rain
A red heavy rain warning has now been issued for Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty.
MetService is forecasting a further 100 to 150mm of rain between 3am tomorrow until 9pm (Wednesday 1 February). This could include peak rates of 15 to 25mm/h and could cause flooding.
Council staff and contractors are monitoring weather forecasts and warnings and are taking the usual precautions to prepare for the next lot of expected heavy rain.
Rainfall in Rotorua during this past weekend was about 10 per cent of what the district normally experiences during an entire year.
Council precautions and preparations ahead of this week’s forecasted heavy rain include checking critical stormwater inlets to make sure they are clear, ensuring wastewater treatment storage ponds are as empty as possible and plant systems (including back-up provisions) are operating.
Following the weekend rain, all stormwater and wastewater networks have returned to normal and clean-ups are complete. Council has organised standby staff should they need to be called in this week.
The most common callouts during the long weekend related to surface flooding, slips and fallen trees and branches. Contractors and staff worked throughout the weekend, prioritising the most urgent jobs in terms of risk to public safety and are today working hard to complete as much as they can before tomorrow.
The priority today is to get the three remaining closed roads open, even as a temporary measure, to reinstate access to affected residents. All three roads (Dods Road, Manawahe Road and Te Kopia Road) were closed due to slips.
Having effectively responded to the weekend event Council is also preparing to activate its emergency response system in case the forthcoming weather event triggers a wider impact on services. The primary focus will be to protect the community’s safety and minimise damages to public and private assets as much as possible.
If you live near a waterway
On Sunday, the Ngongotahā Stream reached peak levels and there was some surface flooding around the area. Several other streams around the district were also very high due to the amount of rainfall we experienced in a short period.
Our grounds are already very saturated and streams, like stormwater networks, have a limit in terms of capacity and depending on the amount and intensity of rainfall, can rise quickly.
Residents who live near water are reminded to remain vigilant about water levels and to be prepared to evacuate if the need should arise. If you feel unsafe and wish to evacuate but need assistance, call Rotorua Lakes Council on 07 348 4199 (available 24/7).
Roads
There are still a few closed roads, slips and debris sites around the district that our contractors are working hard to clear and you can find the latest updates for those here.
Waka Kotahi is working to clear any slips and debris on State Highways and you can see what State Highways have been impacted here.
During heavy rainfall, do not travel unless it is absolutely necessary and if you are driving take extra care and be on the lookout for the likes of slips, debris and fallen trees.
You can report slips and fallen trees to Rotorua Lakes Council on 07 348 4199 (available 24/7).
Be prepared
There are a number of things residents can do to prepare for a weather event:
- Keep an eye on MetService for the latest weather updates at www.metservice.com
- Check your own drains at home to ensure they are clear of any debris.
- Have an emergency preparedness plan and ensure everyone in your household is aware of what to do in an emergency – have an evacuation plan.