Our thoughts go out to all those affected by the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Kia noho haumaru, kia kaha | Stay safe, stay strong
Facebook pages seem to be the best place to go for the most up to date information. Details below are accurate as at 1 March 2023.
Assistance Available
HB Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
If you need to access welfare services in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle you can call our free helpline on 0800 117 672, from 8am – 8pm on weekdays and 8am to 4.15pm at weekends.
It is specifically for welfare needs such as health and wellbeing including mental health, accommodation needs, ongoing food, household goods and services support, animal welfare and rural support.
The call centre is supported by a range of organisations to ensure that it is accessible to people from every diverse group, including translation and Te Ao Maori services.
People who already having their needs assessed and met through a local marae, welfare centre, or other service, should continue to go there. This 0800 helpline is an additional service, not a replacement of existing ones and is not for financial assistance.
Accommodation support
Temporary Accommodation Service has now been activated following Cyclone Gabrielle, to support people in flood affected regions.
If you need help finding somewhere to live while your home is repaired or rebuilt, coordinators can connect you to services and resources to help get you back on your feet.
For more information visit: www.tas.mbie.govt.nz/cyclone-flooding
Or phone: 0508 754 163 (Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5pm, Sat/Sun: 9am-5pm)
Council Facilities and Services
Napier City Council and Hastings District Council have website pages with all Cyclone Gabrielle recovery information such as disposing of flood damaged goods, rubbish and recycling, roading, sewerage, building inspections, water, community hubs and meetings etc:
Napier:
Hastings:
The 'My Hastings' March newsletter is a 'What you need to know' edition about cleaning up property and business premises, Hastings Civil Defence Centres, rates for red and yellow stickered properties and roads: www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/assets/Document-Library/My-Hastings/2023
Healthcare
Free GP care and medications through to 19 March 2023 in Hawke’s Bay.
Free visits to general practice, accident and medical, and urgent care are available in Hawke’s Bay from now until 19 March 2023.
People don’t need to pay a prescription charge when picking up medicines from pharmacies. Controlled drugs still require a prescription.
If you have been immediately affected or displaced, you can get an emergency supply of previously prescribed medicines without a prescription, for free. Controlled drugs still require a prescription.
Free phone consultations through Healthline for those affected by the floods. People can connect directly with a GP and may also be able to get new prescriptions if required through this service – call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
HB DHB Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HawkesBayDHB
Power
Up to date info on power restoration: https://www.unison.co.nz/outages
Mental health and wellbeing support
It is understandable to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, anxious and angry at the moment. It’s ok to not feel ok.
These symptoms almost always pass with time. It can help to keep up usual routines, share your thoughts and feelings with whānau and exercise if you can.
Tackle the jobs that need to be done one bit at a time and count each small success.
It’s time to ask for help if your sleep is badly affected, you feel very distressed, irritable, on edge or agitated much of the time, or you feel hopeless and want to give up.
If you need to talk to someone, counselling is available for free by calling/texting 1737, available 24/7.
Xero Assistance Programme (XAP) - Free counselling
XAP gives three confidential and free telephone, live chat, online or face-to-face counselling sessions through until 31 March 2023. Available to any small business owner, employee or their families. https://www.xero.com/nz/xero-assistance-programme
email xap@xero.com to get access.
Āwhina Whānau Services
Free confidential counselling for tamariki (children), rangatahi (adolescents), tangata (individuals) and whānau (families). Phone (06) 878 4827; 0800 1 WHĀNAU (0800 194 2628) https://awhinawhanauservices.org/
Heretaunga Women's Centre - Counselling
Counsellors are available support women in Heretaunga/Hastings affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, at no cost. If you'd like emotional support or to talk, please get in touch with Jenny on 06 878 5401 or email counsellor@hwc.nz
Managing stress in an emergency – Manatū Hauora / Ministry of Health
A number of resources are available on the Manatū Hauora website helping you understand common reactions to disaster, how to cope with stress and reduce tension. Click here: Managing stress in an emergency
Other Mental Health helplines
Lifeline on 0800 543 354 or text 4357
Samaritans on 0800 726 666
Depression Helpline on 0800 111 757
Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga
A range of support is available. Check out their website https://ttoh.iwi.nz/ or Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/TTOHcommunity
Kai Hub – open directly to affected whānau, call 0800 WHAKAMANA (0800 942 526)
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc
https://www.facebook.com/kahungunu/
Tihei Mauri Ora
This is a non-emergency telephone triage line that can link you with the information and support you or your whānau need. This is a free service and available 7 days from 9am to 4pm. Call 0800 211 024.
Pukemokimoki Marae – holding donations of food, pet food, blankets and more for those affected by flooding
Civil Defence Payment
You may be eligible for a Civil Defence payment. There are conditions that you must meet to qualify. You can apply online - see link below if you have a MSD client number otherwise call 0800 400 100 between 7am and 5pm. You will need to be prepared to wait as there will be a large number of people looking for help. https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/civil-defence-payment.html
The Civil Defence website has some general guidance of services available
https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/resources/news-and-events/news-and-events/cyclone-gabrielle-february-2023/
Volunteering Hawkes Bay
If you need some additional people power then please call Volunteering Hawke’s Bay on 06 391 5476 and they will do their best to get some volunteers to you.
If you would like to help out, complete the Volunteering Hawke’s Bay application form and you may be contacted and asked to assist, click here Emergency Volunteering
https://www.facebook.com/VolunteeringHB
https://volunteeringhb.org.nz/
Inland Revenue
If you cannot meet your tax obligations in the next few weeks or months you do need to let IRD know. You can do this via your myIR and include the word 'flood' in your subject line.
Banking
https://www.asb.co.nz/page/flood-relief-support.html
https://www.westpac.co.nz/about-us/upper-north-island-flooding
https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/contact-us/support-hub/financial-relief/
Safety - Keeping safe around flood waters and silt/dust
Flood waters have deposited large quantities of silt around Hawke’s Bay.
When the silt dries the surface layer can become airborne when disturbed by wind, vehicles or clean-up activities.
Airborne dust can affect people’s health and cause eye irritations, a cough, exacerbate asthma or lead to other respiratory problems. Silt may also contain other toxic substances.
If practical, remove silt deposits as quickly as possible and take the following precautions:
If possible, stay indoors when dust levels are high.
Avoid exercising in the dust.
If possible, reduce vehicle numbers and speeds (10-15 km/hr) over silt-laden surfaces, to reduce dust generation and subsequent exposure.
Wear suitable respiratory protection if exposure to dust cannot be avoided. Proper face-fit respirators (P2, N95) provide the best personal protection; however, even surgical masks will still offer some protection.
Wear gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and gumboots or sturdy shoes when cleaning up.
Anyone coming into contact with silt should wash and dry their hands and/or use hand sanitiser.