Ōtorohanga District Mayor Rodney Dow has declared a State of Emergency for the Ōtorohanga District.
The State of Emergency declaration takes effect immediately (signed at 12:57am on Saturday 14 February 2025) and expires in seven days.
Mayor Dow says the district has experienced widespread flooding and heavy rain, with reports of flooding, slips and inundation.
“The situation in Ōtorohanga is serious, and with nightfall upon us, it’s important we are prepared and have the right controls in place to provide help and support, including required evacuations if needed.”
An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was stood up in the Council Chambers after the initial event with Council’s Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) team working on gathering intel and providing support.
Further help from ŌDC’s CDEM partners at Western Waikato may also be called in to provide support.
Dow and fellow elected members have also been closely monitoring the situation.
The declaration was signed following formal advice from CDEM Duty Controller Dave Simes.
A declaration enables emergency services and response agencies to draw on resources and enact additional powers to assist those affected.
Infrastructure and emergency services partners have been working throughout the evening to assess and manage the impacts of the weather event, including water infrastructure and roading.
For safety reasons, residents are being urged to stay at home and not venture out.
“I urge you to stay safe and do not venture out into floodwater – it is not safe.”
“If you need help, please contact our call centre on 0800 734 000. If it is an emergency, phone 111 immediately.
“Our Civil Defence communications officer will keep our community updated via the Council’s Facebook page and website.”
Looks like home insurance rates just went up in Otorohanga
Albeit across the country
If You can get insurance
Just what You needed with Max Bradfords power reforms raging out of control
Another politician who has disappeared into the sunset leaving behind their legacy and millstone
And councils who appear to want to throw money at everything in sight in building ivory towers and defenses
And not concentrating on coordinating and refining the resources they do possess to operate more efficiently economically and effectively before doing such
Yep, what does this ‘declaration’ really enable? What can the “emergency services and response agencies” draw to “enact additional powers”? Smells of emergency power empowered to take what you’ve got, regardless.
And where tf is Max Bradford?
Internet is swiped clean and “he maintains a low profile” since he effd off politics in ruins.
Check his visage, still online. Maybe you recognize it on your jogg so u’d be able to thank him for its service.