Craig Little: Wairoa Mayor says residents should have emergency grab bags ready to go - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Wairoa Mayor says heavy rain hasn't arrived yet, but people should be prepared.

Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, and the Coromandel Peninsula have orange heavy rain warnings in place.

MetService has also issued a thunderstorm watch for Hawkes Bay.

After severe flooding, the East Coast regions are bracing for more heavy rain, and about 30 homes in the Esk Valley have been evacuated.

Mayor Craig Little told Andrew Dickens that everyone should have grab bags ready to go if they're needed.

He says people should get ready, and if they're scared there are evacuation centres set up that they can go to for the night.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.