More than one month on from Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence says there are still a small number of people in emergency accommodation.
In the days immediately following the cyclone, up to 2000 people sought shelter in emergency hubs or evacuation centres.
Regional group controller Ian Macdonald said that number was now about 20 people.
“There are some people who are still living in marae and that’s because that’s where they feel most comfortable,” Macdonald said.
“The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)’s Temporary Accommodation Service has been really busy the past couple of weeks placing people as best they can, people coming in from emergency accommodation settings.
Sixteen hundred building assessments have been carried out across Hawke’s Bay so far, with 106 properties red stickered and 1321 yellow stickered.
Many of those with yellow or red stickered homes who RNZ spoke to said they were staying with friends or family, in caravans or parts of their property that were deemed safe.
Corey Stephens’ rental in Awatoto was yellow stickered after a metre of water rushed through the newly renovated house.
Credit: radionz.co.nz
