By Bhawna
Cyclone Gabrielle hit New Zealand on the North Island and it moved away from there. About one-third of the country’s population has been affected by the cyclone. A national state of emergency has been declared by Chris Hipkins’ government. This is the third time in New Zealand’s history. This emergency declaration would be beneficial. An emergency had been declared during the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Cyclone Gabrielle started as a subtropical storm and then transitioned from a tropical cyclone.
What happened?
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Some people had to swim from their homes after rivers burst their banks. Others were rescued from rooftops. People have to live without a power supply. Trees have fallen and they have destroyed houses. Landslides have carried people away and blocked roads. The cyclone has been the worst in coastal communities on the North Island. The worst hit are far north and east coast, Hawke’s Bay, Coromandel, and Northland. There have been gale force winds across the North Island.
Communications have been completely cut after a river burst its banks. The civil defense authorities have told that it is difficult to cope with the situation. Two firefighters have been injured. The weather is very rough. Some embankments set up have been washed away. People have been deserted on rooftops and they are waiting for rescue. The trees have been uprooted. Streetlights and poles have got destroyed. The severity of the problem has been something that has not been seen in a generation. The impact is huge.
The disaster has taken place due to climate change. Global temperatures have increased by 1.1 degrees. Other reasons are urbanization and aging infrastructure. La Nina is also a reason. Cyclone Gabrielle took place after unexpected flooding in New Zealand. There was a high risk of a new tropical cyclone near New Zealand. The weather agency has said that there was a tropical low detected in the Coral Sea. The conditions led to a tropical cyclone.
Evacuations
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Beach settlements have been evacuated. Authorities are saying people to leave their homes as rivers continue to swell. Roads are closed. Mobile phone services are cut off. There is a food and water shortage. Helicopter and boat crews rescued people trapped in flood water. The government is providing additional resources to support the affected areas. The military is helping in evacuations. They are maintaining supply lines. Schools are closed.
This is a significant disaster. It has a high threshold. The emergency has given the government the ability to show intent and to respond to people’s needs. There has to be allocation of resources properly. There should be public assurance.
Media has captured photos of people sitting on tops of buildings, surrounded by flood waters, and houses at the bottom of hills.
Civil defense centers and shelters are opened in the region. Flooding is affecting the roads across the region. It is advised not to drive through flood waters.
Transportation
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Air New Zealand canceled many flights. The routes are not clear. Roads are closed and there is no scope for transportation. Transportation is disrupted by flooding and fallen trees. People are told not to travel. Auckland Airport terminals and roads are impacted by flooding. People are told not to travel to the international terminal at this time. Runway operations have been reduced. This was because a runway lighting was damaged by a landing aircraft. Air New Zealand is asking customers to stop calling the contact center. There are impacts on public transport and a number of road closures.
Power
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Power supplies have been cut. A major electricity substation has got destroyed by the cyclone. And it led to a power cut. This affected many people. The country’s national power grid has declared a “grid emergency”. Power might not get restored. High winds have caused powerlines to fall.
Government’s role
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The government has announced a funding of 11.5 dollars for helping people with cyclone Gabrielle. Community providers and NGOs have come up. The support package will be used to restock food banks. There are local community groups and government-contracted community providers that have come up to meet demands for help. Many people have been supported. There has been a mobilization of people. The funding available is not enough. The demands are exceeding the funding available. People have been supported with food, clothing, shelter, and medication. People have lost their homes and families. There is also the concern of post-traumatic stress disorder. There is distress and anxiety. There is also a concern for disabled people. Some people need immediate help. Disabled people need transport assistance. The funds are time-limited. Government really has to work properly in this direction of making people help to come out of the cyclone effects.