Deluge sees state of emergency declared in Napier

From Morning Report, 7:20 am on 10 November 2020

Napier is in a state of emergency on Tuesday after being swamped by extreme and sudden heavy rain.

An estimated 250 millimetres fell in Napier city after midday on Monday - NIWA says it was the wettest day on record since 1963.

Dozens of households were evacuated as the rain hit the city causing flooding, big slips, power failures and trapping people in their cars.

People were urged to stay inside, as long as it was safe to do so as local health authorities were worried the floodwaters could be contaminated.

An evacuation centre was set up last night at Kennedy Park Resort camping ground, and some Napier schools have said they will be closed today due to the flooding.

It's just the second time a local state of emergency has been declared in the city and the first since 2011.

The city's mayor is calling it a one in 250 year event.