Auckland residents could face another week without power following storm

Sunday, 15 April 2018

Vector workers have been kept busy dealing with widespread power cuts across Auckland.

At least 500 Auckland households and businesses are still without power, but it could be next weekend before they get electricity restored.

Earlier on Sunday thousands of homes in Auckland had been powerless after Tuesday night's severe storm, leaving residents frustrated.

Vector are working around the clock to restore power to the thousands of Auckland residents who remain without it.

On Sunday morning one resident of Browns Bay on the North Shore said he had been forced from home as his house operates on a wastewater pump, leaving him without running water and a functional toilet.

'It's costing me every day for Vector not to give me power,' he said.

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'I've rung around all my insurances and there's nothing that's going to pay me any sort of money or cover for my loss of income.'

The man, who asked for his name not to be used, said that many other Aucklanders whose homes operated with wastewater pumps would be in a similar situation, and the extended period of time without power was only going to cost him more.

Vector has provided estimated restoration times for electricity around Auckland on their website, and areas such as Browns Bay, Devonport, Greenhithe and Silverdale aren't expected to be back online until as late as next Sunday.

Emergency services are continuing to make welfare checks on residents in the aftermath of Tuesday night's storm visiting more than 5000 households by Sunday night.

Teams totalling 130 people from Auckland Emergency Management, Auckland Council, NZ Police, NZ Defence Force, Land Search and Rescue, and Red Cross have been conducting welfare checks and they will continue to do so through Sunday.

By 8pm Vector said it had cut the number of homes and businesses suffering from no power and hot water to between 500 and 1500.

The 'majority of suburbs' facing cut main supply lines are expected to be restored before Monday morning. Households who remain without power or hot water after their street is reconnected should contact Vector via phone or app as there may be localised faults on individual properties.

Vector cautioned the number of properties without power 'will continue to fluctuate due to weather conditions and ongoing tree fall which is causing new or additional damage'.

Acting Auckland Emergency Management Director Craig Glover said Vector's focus on Sunday had been determine which properties would still be without power for a number of days.

'We understand that in some areas it could take up to a week to restore power.

'We are continuing to support the households that are affected and understanding how we can provide welfare support to people who will be without power for some time.'

Auckland Emergency Management has opened community hubs to anyone affected by the power outages in Waitakere, Massey, Three Kings, Kumeu, Waimauku and Waiatarua. They will be open on Sunday from 8am to 4pm.

Vector said crews were working around the clock until everyone in Auckland was connected again.

Vector said continued poor weather, lightning strikes and a number of car versus pole accidents around the city had caused new outages overnight and diverted some of their resources from the storm recovery work.

About 19,000 litres of water had been distributed throughout the Auckland region following Tuesday's storm, and close to 200 portaloos had also been delivered to homes, with more expected to go out over the next couple of days.

MetService say the weather is expected to be stable on Sunday, but another front was expected to move across Auckland on Monday and was likely to bring gale force winds of up to 100km/h on the west coast and some heavy rain.