More than 250 volunteers turned out in droves in Levin yesterday, joining the clean-up effort after a tornado wreaked havoc in the North Island town on Friday.
The clean-up in Levin underway after a tornado hit the town on Friday 20/5/2022. Photo:
Locals and officials spent the day coming to grips with the trail of destruction left behind.
Seven buildings have been red-stickered, deeming them uninhabitable. The Horowhenua District Council said of those buildings, two were commercial and five residential. Twenty-four buildings initially classified as having moderate to minor damage will be assessed next week by the council's building advisors.
"Those that have been impacted most are our highest priority. If your building has been red-stickered, you are prohibited from entering the building as it has been deemed unsafe to do so," Horowhenua Civil Defence Emergency Management local controller Daniel Haigh said.
Council staff are today going door to door checking on people in parts of the town hardest hit by Friday's tornado.
Electra is still trying to restore power to a small number of properties.
Four families are in emergency accommodation, others are staying with family and friends. But the damage went beyond buildings, with hundreds of trees also blown down.
More than 250 volunteers - most of them locals and a number of them tradies - brightened the bleak outlook, helping out with the general clean-up.
"The amount of people that have volunteered to help since the event yesterday [Friday], has been incredible," Mayor Bernie Wanden said yesterday.
"This [yesterday] morning we've had at least 250 people turn up including local builders and contractors, with over 50 utes and trailers to help.
"We've had an outpouring of calls and emails from local and national businesses who are offering what they can - contributing building supplies and necessities like heaters, blankets, food and nappies."
In a statement, Horowhenua District Council described a hum of gratitude in the community.
"While many families are still getting to grips with the damage their properties have suffered, the hum in the community has been one of gratitude. Gratitude that the tornado hit when many were in their homes, and not at a time when kids were on the way to school, and gratitude that friends, families, neighbours and strangers chipped in to do what they could in their time of need."
The worst-hit area in Levin was mapped out and designated under the Building Act on Saturday in a bid to make the recovery more efficient.
"So it's an area through the path of the tornado south of Queen Street Levin, traverses west to east across Levin. We can effectively direct work to be undertaken. We assess the building and advise on what work is required," Haigh said.
Photo: Supplied / Horowhenua District Council
"If we didn't have these powers and designation, you know, there's a little bit more of a grey area where it's just it's quite clear that we can assess the building advise on what works required."
On Monday, efforts will again turn to those building owners and occupiers that have been most severely impacted.
