Piha Resilient but looking for answers
Abnormal weather
Built on a hill overlooking New Zealand’s most famous surf beach, the village of Piha is drying up after being hit by Cyclone Gabriel. Newsroom research editor Melanie Reid, where she’s lived for 20 years, was right in the middle of the storm when it hit. She talks to Newsroom collaborator Mark Jennings about the problems Piha faces and what other devastated regions will soon be dealing with.
“I think the hardest part is seeing parents holding their children’s hands and just looking at a broken house. They are asking what will happen now. Where will they find a place to live?” How will they pay their mortgage and afford to pay their rent?Will our insurance cover all the costs they face? I know there is, but there doesn’t seem to be an easy way to find it, especially if you don’t have power or internet. Is required.
“We know we’re not facing challenges on the same scale as Hawke’s Bay or Gisborne, but it’s pretty bad here and the fear factor is very high.”
Reed’s regular investigative reports are on hold while she helps neighbors and sends video reports to Newsroom. Despite being just 40km from Auckland, Piha’s population of about 700 is effectively cut off. There is no power and the access road is badly damaged.
read more:
* Cyclone Destruction in 7 Charts
* Cyclone Gabriel: Hillside passes through Piha’s house
Her home is safe, but Reed’s friend Tasha Gray, who is currently with her, doubts she will ever return to her home.
“I used to live at the foot of a steep slope, and on the first night (of the cyclone) a torrent rushed into my yard and I prepared to leave the house. I saw my neighbor’s house pass by, it rolled and rolled again and out onto the road, I grabbed some things and left.
“I came back the next day and got the pots and pans and my work. I met the engineer on the road and I could see in his eyes how worried he was. I said goodbye to living in the house, hoping it would disappear.
On Thursday, 40 houses on Gray’s street were evacuated. Because the road itself began to collapse.
Like many people in the North Island, Gray did not expect to lose his home despite the cyclone’s intensity.
“I thought we were in the best part of Piha. It’s always really protected here. My house was based on the original Bach. These batches will be here forever, Survived hundreds of storms No one in our city thought of mudslides If your home is under a hill many people re-evaluate it here and elsewhere I think you have to.”
Reid says Piha residents are used to rough weather and are well prepared, but “but this was something else.”
“The rain didn’t stop, it kept falling, and it came in from the side. of houses and blocks of roads were destroyed.
“We are grateful that no one was hurt as the situation was very critical, with people escaping just in time before the rocks fell on the house and the walls collapsed.
“that It may seem strange to an outsider, but the people here are very closely connected with this place and its landscape. I keep hearing locals say poor Piha, poor Piha, including those who have lost everything. ”
The sense of community and its collective action is very reassuring to the people of Piha, Reed said, and he expects it to be important for other devastated areas.
“Call anyone and they will come to your aid. Yesterday I had to move all of someone’s belongings from the house and the surf club crew arrived and it was done in a few hours. Diesel” Delivery trucks have arrived and all community venues are working together, with shops handing out food for free and takeaway bars giving out food for free.RSA chefs cook for everyone Surf clubs offer temporary accommodation so people can go somewhere else as well.
“Our biggest problem is the lack of electricity, which means that many people do not have access to water. can’t use it.”
Tasha Gray says the village is probably lucky in that it can take care of itself.
“There are a lot of very hands-on people here. All the plumbers, builders, electricians and excavator drivers who want to surf are lucky to live in Piha!
“I’ve had great help from people like Melanie and friends from the volunteer fire department. I saw a mom with her 4-year-old daughter and I was shocked.
“I hope it doesn’t rain any more. It’s really bad.”
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/piha-resilient-but-looking-for-answers Piha Resilient but looking for answers
