Tuesday, March 7, 2023

NO WONDER IT WAS WET

The rainfall figures are now out for "Summer" if you can call it that.  For the 3 months, December, January and February we received a massive 1004 mm.  This was just under four times the normal summer average and the highest since records began.  Over summer we received over 77% of our normal annual rainfall.

I recently posted photos of the Quarry Gardens and it was thought they would be closing permanently because of all slips but they re-opened parts of the garden yesterday.  There are lots of slips but it was all built by volunteers from a bare quarry so will be rebuilt again.

When we visit I will post some photos.

Meanwhile the devastation is too shocking and too much to write about.  Hundreds of people are unable to return to their homes as they have been red stickered.  Many more have yellow stickers which mean work is needed before they can return.  In many places it will not be practical to rebuild because of possible future flooding or landslips.

Our State Highway between here and Auckland is now open for northbound traffic only with long detours for southbound and much more work to do.

Meanwhile, here is Doug's first painting.  He has been to Art Class again today and is really enjoying it.



12 comments:

  1. I,too, cannot find words for the Hawkes Bay and surrounding areas devastation.Lost homes, family members, animals, and all possessions in some cases.Love the art work Doug, keep it going.

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    1. It is heartbreaking isn't it. There is also going to be a shortage of produce over winter. Not sure if the Kumara paddocks in the Kaipara have dried out yet. Hope all well for you.

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  2. Northland, Auckland and Gisborne got hit so hard it was unbelievable. I hope you do'nt get rain like that ever again.

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    1. At least we didn't have damage not like the East Coast.

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  3. Wow, that is an incredible amount of rain for an area not used to it. No wonder so much damage has been caused. Doug's swans look great :)

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    1. Yes, there is still a lot to be fixed up here and even more on the East Coast. Doug is really enjoying going back to painting.

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  4. The destruction in Hawkes Bay is incredible. So much mud and silt, so many homes lost. How on earth do you dig out of all that and carry on .

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    1. It is so hard just looking at photos of the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne. All that silt through the houses and across the land. It would be heartbreaking.

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  5. That is fine work of Doug's. You have a multitalented man there!

    The devastation is awful. But look at photos from the 1930s when this was as bad before....and people advised Do not rebuild in the same place.....
    It was interesting to see an interview with a woman...from Hawkes Bay? She pointed out that not all the wood washed down was slash, a lot was dead willow, poplar and other trees that have died and just been left...in some cases poisoned, like the willow, but not cleared. So a more complicated problem than it seems

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    1. I hadn't seen that about the willows. All the footage I saw it looked like slash. Whatever the cause it is a major problem to sort and huge financially. I don't know how the country can afford it especially after all the money spent on Covid. Obviously, it will have to be sorted and a lot of areas can't be built on again.

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  6. Doug has a real talent. I very much enjoy the colors he chose for the mountain range and sky.
    Awful to read of the devastation out your way. -glad to know you were not personally hit. x

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  7. Doug is very artistic and really enjoying getting back to painting. It is a month since the cyclone hit and will take a long time to get things sorted. A nearby area grows kumara (sweet potatoe) and they are worried about harvesting enough for seed let alone for sale. Other areas have vineyards, orchards and market gardens under silt. There are thousands of cars being written off due to damage as well as homes.

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