Council warns against 'non-essential travel' as Napier hit with flash flooding

November 9, 2020

Napier City Council has warned against all but non-essential travel.

Napier City Council is asking residents to avoid all but essential travel, flush toilets only when necessary and limit all water use as flash flooding overwhelms the roads and wastewater system.

The council warned it can't keep up with reporting the number of roads which are flooded out this evening and decided to instead give a blanket warning.

“Council is receiving constant reports of roads which are unpassable and we will not be able to continue to report on individual roads as resources are diverted to managing the situation," a statement on the council's Facebook page reads.

"Based on what we know at the moment and the continued rainfall, we have to advise against any non-essential travel.

Locals are making the most of the horrendous weather.

"We also request that anyone using the roads drives with great care - some manhole lids may have been lifted and those and other risks may not be visible to drivers. Please also keep speeds as low as possible as the wake from passing vehicles is flooding houses.”

According to RNZ, dozens of residents are being evacuated from their homes as flood waters rise and sirens from emergency services can be heard around the city.

MetService has recorded well over 74mm of rain in Napier today, with more rain expected this evening.

The city has already recorded more than 73 millimetres of rain, with much more expected later tonight.

It has a heavy rain watch for Hawke's Bay until 1am tomorrow morning.

MetService is also forecasting thunderstorms for the region.

Fire and Emergency NZ area manager Ken Cooper says emergency responders are dealing with more than 150 call-outs, mostly in the Napier CBD with water flooding shops and office.

Several elderly people have been evacuated from their homes to stay with relatives, Cooper says.

The heavy rain has also caused a number of landslips on Napier Hill, with the Hawke's Bay Urban Search and Rescue team assessing.

Two additional trucks have been called in from Hastings to assist.

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