Checking In On A Flooded Auckland

“This sucks. I hate the ‘find out’ phase of climate change.” The worst flooding New Zealand's biggest city has ever seen. Are you OK out there?

Edit:

If you need MSD welfare assistance as a result of the flooding, call 0800 400 100.

If you need urgent accomodation assistance, call 0800 22 22 00.

David.

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Hi,

“I think clearly this is quite unprecedented,” uttered Chris Hipkins, New Zealand’s new Prime Minister, last night. A sentence about something so unprecedented always sounds so low key coming out of the lips of a New Zealander.

But Auckland is flooded, underwater, in chaos. The city I still call home is being slammed by the worst rains on record. It is unprecedented. Overnight, 2000 people were left stranded at Auckland Airport (our biggest) — luggage carts and suitcases pushed through knee-deep water. Landslides. Slips. A canceled Elton John concert.

Lives are at risk, and at least one has already been lost. A state of emergency was eventually declared (after mayor Wayne Brown had brewed his cup of tea).

Auckland’s new mayor, Wayne Brown, signing a state of emergency

And so I wanted to check in on any readers in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland — and maybe see this comments section used as a way to check in on each other. Maybe there’s someone who needs something who lives just down the road from you.

I logged into the Webworm app last night and started a thread about the flooding, and immediately felt grateful that everyone was connected and sharing information. It was kinda terrifying, too:

“I’m fine but my friend’s step dad is trapped up a tree in Coatesville surrounded by floodwaters. The fire department is in attendance but waters are flowing too fast for them to get to him. They’ve said he will be waiting another hour so obviously other people are in worse situations. I believe they have a team for fast water rescues? It’s dark now as well. He must be freezing.”

Lots of people spent the night stuck, stranded, and wet.

“My husband is parked up for the night in the car in the middle of nowhere” said Libby. “I’m in Waterview and it’s living up to its name — water, water everywhere” said Tamara. “The whole neighbourhood is under at least a foot of water. The storm water drains are so backed up that the flooding inside our house is not through the doors or up under the floor, but coming back up through our floor drains!”

As someone else commented — it’ll be the biggest insurance event Auckland has ever seen.

The photos came in, too.

St George’s Bay road underwater (credit: Webworm reader Liz).

Grey Lynn / Ponsonby flooded (credit: Webworm reader Sam).

New Lynn carparks flooded (credit: Webworm reader Catherine).

Credit: Webworm reader Ruby.

Facebook and TikTok are riddled with videos. This bus driver just thought “fuck it” and surged on forward, getting passengers where they needed to be.

Josh Drummond, Webworm’s merchant of doom, aptly said, “This sucks. I hate the ‘find out’ phase of climate change.”

So yeah — keep an eye out for each other. Maybe there are readers here who’ve been in floods before. Advice is welcome. No doubt each country handles things a bit differently.

I have friends who arrived home to all their possessions under a layer of brown, moving water. It’s always brown.

Henderson Park underwater (credit: Webworm reader Tess)

Oh — and good news this morning about the stepdad up the tree: “He’s out and safe guys! Now warming up in an ambulance.”

I’m not gonna say “thoughts and prayers” because thoughts and prayers achieve absolutely nothing. So share advice and ask for help in the comments if you need it — a fellow worm may be nearby and able to offer help or assistance.

Or just vent. This sucks.

David.