Matt Alley: Otago Civil Defence group controller issues warning as heavy rain hits the South Island

The message is clear as heavy rain pelts the lower South - be prepared.

A red-level heavy rain warning is in force for North Otago, Dunedin and coastal Clutha.

NIWA reports Dunedin has already had 75 percent of its normal monthly rainfall for October.

Otago Civil Defence group controller Matt Alley said they were continuing to monitor rain as it was falling.

"We have our emergency operation centre in Dunedin city and Clutha and a coordination centre in Dunedin as well, fully activated."

Residents and visitors to Central Otago's Omakau and Ophir are under a Boil Water Notice for the time being and drinking water tankers are at the Omakau Domain and Swindon Street.

Conserve water notices remain in place for Ranfurly, Naseby and Patearoa.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Otago is on standby for potentially unprecedented rainfall across the region,
with a red heavy rain warning and up to one
hundred and fifty millimeters of rain expected to fall. Dunedin
Civil Defense Bunker has been activated in the Met Service
says there are possible quote threats to life. Matt Ali
is Otago Civil Defense Group Controller and is with us

(00:20):
siveniod evening. Sure, Jack, what's the latest.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Look. We're continuing to monitor rain as it's falling. We
have our Emergency Operations Center in Donedan City includes their
INNE Coordination Center in Dunedinan as well, fully activated monitoring
the rain as it falls.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Yeah, some pretty out there language in the Met Service
warnings that they're saying that potentially the extreme rainfall could
cause quote a threat to life from dangerous river conditions
and significant flooding and slips. Just how present is that
threat to life do you think?

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Look, we're asking memes of the community to stay away
from low lying flood prini areas, stay out of flood
floodwaters and don't drive through any floodwater. So if they
see rising waters as well, we encourage them to be
ready to south evacuate don't wait to be told. If
you see it, make a decision and.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Go what's your biggest concern at the stage.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
Mat Look, we're monitoring the waters at silver Stream. We
expect the spill way to overtop during the night. We
think that's largely can go on to farmland, so we're
going to monitor that through the night. Also, areas south
the need and experiencing some ponding as the stormwater network

(01:36):
sort of deals with what's coming down this stage, mostly
those areas around the sort of Mouscule Tirie area and
then through south to Eden.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
What's the likelihood you'll need to issue evacuation orders?

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Look, I would say unlikely at this stage. But as
I said, we've got teams that'll be working through the
night and we'll be proactive in that space.

Speaker 1 (01:55):
Yeah, at what point do you think you'll be through
the worst of it.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
We're expecting two peaks, so one of around midnight tonight,
and a second peak is the weather it's probably mid
afternoon tomorrow, right.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
Have these regions ever experienced rainfall like that which is
forecast at the moment.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, we have. We had an event in twenty fifteen
and another one in twenty seventeen that it was sort
of comparative, So this isn't unknown and the communities have
dealt with things like this before.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
Okay, do you feel sufficiently organized for the rainfall at
the stage.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah. Look, we've been really well supported by the Ottaga
Regional Council, other local councils in Dunedan City, Waitaki and KLUP,
and we've got some really good support from our emergency
service partners, Police, Foreign Emergency Saint John as well as
MPI and INDMSD with us.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
Finally, then Matt, give us that message once again for
anyone in these affected areas, what do you want them
to do?

Speaker 2 (02:49):
Look, just stay off the roads. Please put off any
non essential travel. Again. If you see water coming up,
if you feel like you've been thriven by that, don't
wait to be told, make the decision and go.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
Thanks Matt. That's Matt Ali from Otago Civil Defense. We're
going to keep you up to date with the very
latest just as soon as any updates come through for
met Service or Civil Defense over the coming hours. Right now,
it's ten past five. Team for more from Hither Duplessy
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