Alec Louverdis: Civil Defence Controller gives an update on the severe weather hitting Tasman

Civil Defence is bracing for the worst as wild weather is set to thrash the upper South Island.  

MetService has issued a red heavy rain warning for Tasman off the back of three weeks of rain saturated the region.  

Nelson-Tasman's under a state of emergency and has activated its emergency operations centre. 

Civil Defence Controller Alec Louverdis says they have clear messages to those at risk.  

He says previously flooded residents should self-evacuate and those in region should avoid roads or going near waterways as it's a threat to life.  

Orange rain warnings are also in effect for Marlborough, Mount Taranaki, east of Kawerau, Waikato, the Coromandel, Auckland, and Northland. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
Warnings from Civil Defenses. The top of the South Island
prepares for more rain. Met Services issued a red heavy
rain warning for Tasman off the bank of three weeks
of rain saturating the region. It is a time of
caution for people in that area. Civil Defense Controller Alex
le Vertis joins us now for the latest. Alex, very

(00:37):
good afternoon to you.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Hello, Ode, How are you good?

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Thank you?

Speaker 1 (00:40):
What's the situation, Alex?

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Well, we obviously we were when we woke up this morning.
We had an orange orange rain warning that was elevated
to a red. But we've we had planned for the
worst case scenario and we've managed to put a lot
of resources in place. We've built on the good work

(01:04):
that we had done last week or what the team
had done last week. We've got the new ZA and
the Defense Force over. We've got search and rescue teams,
We've got the fans rapid water teams, and we're going
to be placing them in strategic locations. We're opening up
for welfare centers and just I'm about to I've stepped

(01:29):
out of the EOC to take this call. But we're
about to put out an EMA, which is an electronic
messaging alert which we'll be asking all of those that
have been affected previously by flooding and if those that
are feeling unsafe to evacuate their properties because we just

(01:50):
can't take chances with the red warning.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Like you on the ground in the area, I'm in.

Speaker 3 (01:55):
The EOC and that's based in Richmond, TDC.

Speaker 1 (01:59):
Yes, Yeah, what are the worst areas?

Speaker 3 (02:02):
Alick, So, the worst hit areas last week was multiple
valleys within Tasman so Tapawera, Rewalker, Motuweka. They've got multiple valleys,
multiple rivers and they were all hit. And the expectation
is now that this is a red warning, those places

(02:24):
are likely to be hit again. But that's on the
back of those places already a haven't been hit. It's
been wet, high ground, water very sodden, and it's just
going to add more misery to an already bleak situations.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Slips the primary concern here alec or rivers flooding. I
take it as a point of concern as well.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
I think there's both, but it's it's rivers, it's rivers
at the moment, and last week those rivers had a
mind of their own and they've carved out new paths
and they've they've caused substantial damage to properties and it's
those same properties that are in the firing line again.
But yes, and along with that is roads, and obviously

(03:07):
in and out of Nelson and Tasman either side is
slips because we've got ranges on either side of us.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
How long is this current with a situation expected to last.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
So till at least tomorrow and then hopefully things will
care up. The prognosis going forward is that it will
care up, and we're expecting the heavy rain is starting
to come in now and then there will be a
time lapse in terms of the rivers depending on how

(03:42):
they respond, some of them arising rapidly now. But certainly
we'll be manning the EOC and have people on the
ground right through the night as well as tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
Where should people go for information and what advice have
you got for people in affected areas?

Speaker 3 (03:59):
So thank you for that question. So, first of all,
that can go to the Nelson, Tasman and Civil Defense site.
But the message is clear from our perspective. Please if
you do not need to be on the roads. Do
not be on the roads please. And if you are
on the roads, do not take things likely. Do not

(04:20):
go into areas that have water in them because you
can get it to trouble no matter even if you're
in a four by four. Please stay away from the
rivers from a health from a health perspective in terms
of being washed away and also contamination. And look, just
take care of yourself, don't put your don't put your
life at risk. But this we need to take this
seriously and you need to look after yourself. Don't travel,

(04:43):
stay away from the rivers. If you've been flooded previously,
please evacuate now.

Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah, thank you so much for talking to us. Alec.
Can you stay safe out there?

Speaker 3 (04:52):
Thank you?

Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yes, that is Civil Defense Controller Alec la Verdez. And
if you are in the Nelson Tasman region, some important
information there and if you need to find out more,
just Google search for the Emergency Emergency Tasman Civil Defence
website and of got all the details there as well, right,
and also if you've got anything to share, then eight
hundred eighty ten eighty or text us on ninety two

(05:15):
ninety two yeah, yeah, Fingers crossed for you guys down there.

Speaker 1 (05:18):
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