Hundreds of Aucklanders are grappling with soggy, smelly and expensive repair work - and an apparent shortage of commercial dehumidifiers - after the region was lashed with rain on Monday morning.
Mustafa Kokcu in Picco Eatery, which was targeted by ram raiders before the water started flooding in. Photo: RNZ / Kate Todd
One commercial cleaning company says its seen damage to schools, kindergartens and retirement villages, as well as 15 flooded apartments in one building, and a home with a collapsed ceiling.
Among those with a hefty to-do list are Mustafa and Felicia Kokcu, who own Picco Eatery in Glendowie.
The store was ram-raided at about 4am on Monday, leaving a gaping hole for floodwaters to surge inside when the rain set in at 8am.
"Water was coming in, and I was trying to get the water outside," Mustafa Kokcu said.
"Damage to the door then same day flooding - that's double points for me."
The Kokcus believe they are fortunate, because two doors down in the same block of Roberta Avenue shops, a woman was shocked by electricity in the floodwaters.
However their store sits dark, boarded up and closed indefinitely, until they can replace the alcohol, money and laptop stolen by thieves, as well as front door and windows, and flooring.
Mustafa explained the costs will all have to be to from their own pocket.
"There's so much damage... and I didn't make any insurance because [we had a] very bad time from Covid."
With help from their children, the Kokcus said they had already removed all the waterlogged carpet and wood from their floor.
"It's all soaked and wet and smelly, so it's totally gone," Felicia said.
Photo: RNZ
On the other side of the city, there are brown smudges about 60 centimetres off the ground all around Chantal Kruger's house, where the water reached.
She has loaded up a trailer with ruined carpet and belongings plucked from the downstairs bedroom, bathroom, laundry and garage - and her son has moved into a small room upstairs until his room is dry.
The inside was still messy and "it stinks", she said.
"My antique furniture, the whole area, was just submerged. Our chest freezer's broken, our washing machine, tumble dryer, everything's destroyed," she said.
"When we emigrated, my sons only brought one box. I gave them one huge box to choose the things that they wanted to bring with them - and my sons boxes that were under [the water] with all their sentimental things. So that makes me sad. The stuff they wanted is destroyed."
Mustafa Kokcu of Picco eatery in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd
Kruger has been working furiously to salvage belongings from the cupboards, throw out food from the broken freezer, and dry clean drenched clothes - but she hasn't been able to get hold of any commercial dehumidifiers.
Maria Stephens of Auckland Steam 'n' Dry, which rents out flood repair equipment, said her company was so busy it had a waitlist, and was booked up until Tuesday.
It's taken bookings from about 100 residents and businesses with damage ranging from mild, to severe.
She said the phones hadn't stopped ringing since Monday, and it was the busiest she'd been in five years working there.
"Just constantly getting calls and we've missed quite a few - even with multiple people in our office - who've had their house flooded. We've had schools, childhood centres, retirement homes, all flooded."
"We've had offices with over 500 square metres, places with 15 apartments flooded, two-level homes flooded where the ceilings have fallen down."
While Chantal Kruger waits in her damp home, she said she was feeling worried about her asthma, as well as the impact of any future rain.
"I'm scared because I don't want it to happen again. Last winter we didn't have as bad rain, but apparently this floods."
