Life in the eye of Cyclone Gabrielle

Every hour or so the town of Whitianga on the Coromandel’s eastern seaboard is reminded that they are in a state of emergency.

For the town’s 6500 residents there is little else to do but bide their time and heed the civil defence warnings to stay put and evacuate to the town’s welfare centre should they see fit.

Along Buffalo Beach Rd, the road that runs parallel along the length of the town’s east facing beach, some homeowners have taken the precaution of sandbagging entrance ways and door sills.

Others make do with make-shift solutions; foam matting held in place by temporary fencing base block, electric pumps working overtime.

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The siren that sounds has two functions: it calls volunteer firefighters to their station but also reminds the residents of the town that someone somewhere needs help.

At several property fire pumpers can be seen discharging water from gardens and garages into gutters on the street. Pyrrhic victories against rain and storm surges that are not set to stop for some time yet.

MetService’s forecast for the town shows the air pressure falling again on Monday evening and a red heavy rain warning in place until at least 6am Tuesday morning​.

Along the shore front debris washed out of estuaries has been thrust back ashore by the strength of Monday’s 1:26pm high tide and accompanying storm surge.

At another site, a large yellow marker buoy that earlier in the day warned boaties of a 5 knot speed zone now displays its limit to passing motorists as it leans against a seaside fence.

The street-side fuse box at the corner of racecourse road and Buffalo Beach road had started to smoke and hiss on Monday afternoon, an indicator of a water induced fault.

Residents are remaining stoic, the town’s welfare centre located in the town hall at 24 Monk St remained empty as of 5pm.

Well staffed by officials from a range of agencies, they were to be on hand through the night to provide sleeping facilities, a yarn and a cuppa to those who need it.

Civil Defence was strongly urging all people in areas that have been flooded previously, or who live close to beaches or rivers, especially along the eastern seaboard, to self-evacuate as soon as possible to family or friends until the cyclone has passed.

Those who did chose to sleep in their own beds tonight may find rest wanting, the wail of wind and emergency sirens a reliable companion.