Residents in the Tasman District Face a Daunting Recovery Effort

Residents in the Tasman District, particularly those near the village of Wakefield, are grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding that struck the region over a week ago. The Nelson Tasman Civil Defence has shifted its focus from emergency response to recovery, as communities begin the arduous task of rebuilding their lives.

Flood Damage and Stickered Homes

Since the flooding event, 15 homes have been marked with yellow stickers, indicating significant damage, while one home has been red-stickered, meaning it is uninhabitable. These affected properties are located in the Motueka Valley, Tapawera, and Wai-iti. The floodwaters left a trail of destruction, with many residents still coming to terms with the extent of the damage.

Personal Stories of Resilience

Charla Stratford, a resident who had only lived in her home for 19 months, described the harrowing experience of the flood. She recounted how the water rose rapidly, forcing her and her family to evacuate. Upon returning, she found her home in disarray, with carpets and linoleum stripped away and floorboards warped from the moisture. The lingering smell of damp and the constant hum of dehumidifiers underscore the ongoing challenges faced by those affected.

Stratford believes that if a nearby culvert were widened, her home might have been spared the floodwaters. "It was coming over sideways from that culvert creek there, and if that was bigger, we wouldn't have this issue," she said.

Julian Edmonds, another resident, has lived on his property since the last major flood in 1983. He described the flood as "really dangerous," with water levels so high that they ripped up gravel from his driveway and surrounded his home. The memory of a neighbor being dragged through the water with such force that their clothes were torn off remains a haunting reminder of the flood's power.

Community Support and Volunteer Efforts

Fire and Emergency crews have played a crucial role in supporting those affected by the floods. Wakefield chief fire officer Wattie Mortimer highlighted the dedication of his volunteers, who have worked over 240 hours in the past week. Mortimer also shared the personal toll of the disaster, as two of his staff members had their properties severely damaged. "That's probably the difficult part in situations like this where you are out helping the community, but you also have got your own family and property to be looking after as well," he said.

Looking Ahead

As the region transitions into the recovery phase, the focus is on assessing the damage and implementing measures to prevent future disasters. The experience has underscored the need for improved infrastructure, such as wider culverts, to mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall. While the road to recovery is long, the resilience of the Tasman community shines through as they work together to rebuild their homes and lives.

This article has been adapted and enriched for clarity and structure, focusing on the human impact of the floods and the community's response to the crisis.