Auckland floods update: 261 homes now red-stickered

Emergency Management is ramping up its door-knocking efforts in flood-damaged parts of Auckland.

About 200 people from the council and its partner agencies are checking on the welfare of residents.

Emergency Management Duty Controller Rachel Kelleher said it is likely some people can’t access the information they need.

“We’ve been using a range of different communication channels to help provide important information to the community, including information that we’re having translated into a range of different languages.”

Kelleher also told today’s 1pm Emergency Management briefing that 261 homes are now red-stickered and 1478 have yellow stickers.

She said all beaches in the Auckland region are still closed, including the Kaipara Harbour because of potential contamination.

Residents affected by the flood in the suburb of Bayview said the help given by volunteers makes them emotional.

Today, more than 1000 people are expected to join the Student Volunteer Army clean up in the most affected neighbourhoods.

Margareth has lived in Sapphire Place for more than 50 years and had her entire first floor covered in water.

She said she wouldn’t know where to start if it wasn’t for the community help.

“I would not know anybody, the amount of people that are in to move this table, to do this work.”

“Very much appreciated, to have the help is amazing.”

A local board member has set up a community hub in Auckland’s Onehunga to help deal with the long term impacts of last week’s floods.

Deputy chair of the Maungakiekie – Tamaki Local Board, Debbie Burrows said the hub focuses on getting out into the community and identifying their needs.

Burrows said many residents just need someone to talk to, and some advice.

She said she has been listening to their concerns, and will be reporting them back to council to improve their disaster response.