Stay Safe Urges Civil Defence

Local civil defence and rescue personnel across the Coromandel Peninsula are continuing their messages for people to stay safe.

As the forecasted strong winds and heavy rain continued to batter the region, Civil Defence Controller Gary Towler, this afternoon told CFM it was a blessing most people currently in the region were “the resilient, resident population”.

Rescue services personnel and civil defence staff around the peninsula, fear the current weather event, could douse the region with up to a metre of rain over the coming six or seven days.

This time round, besides the fragile roads, Gary is warning of the risk of slips across the urban areas – more particularly the eastern seaboard of the peninsula.

He said everyone is aware of the fragile roads which remained high risk, but due to the already very wet ground, urban slips were highly likely.

Anyone noticing a change in landforms or slips around properties is being asked to notify Thames Coromandel District Council or emergency services immediately.

The strong wind watch remains in place until 3.00am (tomorrow) Monday with the Orange rain warning extended until 5.00pm.