Cyclone

[imhilien]

So New Zealand is currently under a State of Emergency because of Cyclone Gabrielle that's been working its way down the east coast of the North Island for the last few days. There's been a lot of widespread damage; evacuations, power cuts, cellphone towers down. I'm ok, the cyclone has moved away to the point it's stopped raining here but there's still gale force winds out there. People had been advised to stay indoors the last few days and off the roads. A friend of mine here in Auckland had a tree come down in her yard last night, luckily it didn't fall on her house.

The last cyclone that did this much damage was Cyclone Bola in the '80's. Usually cyclones from the tropics up north lose their power by the time they come down here, but every so often there's one that comes down ready to rumble. That's what happened this time. :(

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/300806079/live-state-of-national-emergency-declared-as-cyclone-gabrielle-smashes-nz

Comments

[corvidology]

I'm sorry to hear that New Zealand is having to deal with this but glad to hear that you're okay!

[imhilien]

Thanks for that. The sun is shining this morning for the first time in days, can't hear any wind. :)

[apisa_b]

Desasters like this cyclone are so scary. We can't do anything but seek shelter and hope for the best.
I'm glad you are safe and unharmed.

[imhilien]

Thanks for that. I think Monday night was the worst as there was gale force winds all night. At least the sun is out now. I feel sorry for the Hawkes Bay region (on the east coast) as phones / internet don't work there, some communities are completely cut off. Luckily a navy ship has turned up there now to help out with supplies.

[vilakins]

I'm glad you're OK! We had a couple of trees come down when we lived in Auckland, one branch across our driveway so I was late to work as I had to drag it away. I hope your place is safe from falling trees and branches, but it seems trampolines are the big danger. In the last storm a couple of those and a glasshouse left their homes here.

Now I think of it, there's a trampoline one side of us and a glasshouse the other. We had gales this week (common here) but so far, so good.

[imhilien]

Thanks for that. Yes, my neighbourhood was fairly lucky. A tree came down on a road just nearby but it's cleared away now. There is a massive avocado tree that some neighbours have, (and refuse to take down even though it's a menace) but it only lost a few small branches.

[vilakins]

They could at least get it professionally pruned back. Maybe they'll start to think about danger now.

[imhilien]

Yes, hopefully they will.