Oxford house loses its roof. Photo: RNZ/Stan McFerrier
A Canterbury woman has described sheltering with her family and pets in a home office as howling winds ripped the roof off the house and rain drenched everything inside.
Jade Teki Stewart said she had previously felt safe in 100km/h Nor'westers but Thursday's gales were far worse.
"I clocked it at 106 km/h about 15 minutes before the roof went off and then a friend posted at theirs just down the road, they clocked it at 186 km/h and I'm pretty sure that's the one that took the roof," she said.
_ Photo: RNZ/Stan McFerrier
Stewart rushed to her daughter's bedroom and tried to open the door but the wind had sucked it shut.
The family sought refuge in the office with their cats and dogs, as roofing iron damaged their vehicles, a horse float and the neighbour's car and smashed into trees.
"We've got a water tank, a 3000-litre water tank, that's come over from the neighbours and it's taken down a couple of our deer gates, smashed the posts. Then roof was gone and the wind was just still pulling, suctioning everything out of the house, it was rough, and then the water came," she said.
Oxford house loses its roof. Photo: RNZ/Stan McFerrier
She said the wind was followed by rain that has saturated the inside of their home and left half of the house uninhabitable.
Firefighters arrived but could not cover the roof to protect their home because the wind was so strong.
"We tried to move as much as we could but it was exhausting and we are physically fit people. I feel sorry for anyone who has any type of condition or is a bit elderly. You can't do anything, you can just watch," she said.
"I think the hard part's in front of us, it's the 'how long is it going to take to rebuild'? Then you've got all of those moments where you wake up and you realize that you won't be home for Christmas."
_ Photo: RNZ/Stan McFerrier
Stewart said the country could be doing more to prepare for the effects of severe weather.
"We won't be prepared if this government doesn't pull finger and actually recognise that they need to start putting in the work and looking after our environment. Even though we are a small country we can pack a punch if we lead the way and at the moment we're not leading the way."
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