No trampoline was safe from the strong winds that hit Riversdale this week. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The prospect of more ferocious winds has locals in Riversdale on the verge of tears.
The beach side community in Wairarapa is still without power after winds of up to 150kmh ripped through the region on Tuesday.
A red wind warning will come into effect on Thursday for Wellington and Wairarapa south of Carterton, with orange warnings in place north into Tararua.
A downed tree in Homewood Road, Riversdale, Wairarapa. Photo: Supplied / Paul Williams
Multiple concrete power poles have snapped on Homewood Road into the coastal village, with crews working to restore them one by one.
Powerco's website is showing more than 2000 properties without power in the region.
Riversdale Beach Store owner Pip Hannon. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Riversdale Beach Store owner Pip Hannon said the wind on Tuesday was fierce.
"That was really extreme, it was huge."
She said she was not worried yesterday about the power, anticipating that it would quickly return, but when it was confirmed it would not be back last night, generators were started up.
Power lines down in Riversdale in Wairarapa. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
But the timing could not be worse ahead of one of the community's biggest weekends - Labour Weekend.
Hannon said she did not want to even contemplate tomorrow's forecast.
"I don't want to think about it because I'll cry. We're all prepped for the big weekend. There's nothing you can do. There's no point sweating it."
She said she was unsure when the power will return, because the "damage is so widespread".
"It's going to be a while. I'd be really grateful if we had power by Friday."
Farmer Jeff Meredith said he had never encountered wind like the gusts that blew on Tuesday - sending trampolines into the air and trees onto powerlines.
"We've got a few trees down. It's pretty out the gate what's happened here.
"We've never seen it like this in Riversdale."
He said they were slowly cleaning up but "getting ready for another mess tomorrow".
"People that have lost glass balustrades, trampolines, power obviously, lots of fences, glass been pushed in."
Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Meredith said the immediate steps were dealing to the downed trees and "getting the vultures in to take the firewood away".
Marquerite-Louise Vierstraete-Williams is the chair of the Riversdale Beach Community Association and one of the few locals who has a back-up generator.
She said the winds were so strong they shook the house.
"That's quite amazing, we've never had that in the eight years we've lived here. The poor chimney, it's like 'Oh my god, please don't blow off'."
Marquerite-Louise Vierstraete-Williams is the chair of the Riversdale Beach Community Association Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Williams said half of the 400 houses in the area were not occupied full-time.
"Across the road the new roofing material that hasn't been nailed down just took off, the sheets were just folding in half - like, wow."
She said they were as prepared as they could be for tomorrow, and were just keeping their fingers crossed it would not be as bad as forecast.
Power lines down in Riversdale in Wairarapa. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Firefighters rushed off their feet
Fire and Emergency group manager Craig Cottrill said crews were scrambling to deal with the onslaught of more than 60 weather-related calls on Tuesday.
He said one person was taken to hospital after being struck by a tree in Masterton, but the bulk of the calls were in response to things "ending up in places they shouldn't be".
"A person that's noticed the neighbour's fence has blown over. Someone waiting at the train station that had seen a shed moving along the platform and about to attack the shelter."
Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
He said many things "ended up in places they shouldn't be".
Cottrill said Masterton - the region's only career brigade - was stocking up on screws from the hardware store ahead of forecast galeforce winds on Thursday.
Stay home - advice
Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (WREMO) is advising people to stay home if possible tomorrow and be prepared for power outages.
Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
A red wind warning will come into effect tomorrow for Wellington and Wairarapa south of Carterton.
WREMO said people should avoid unnecessary travel and take care when driving on the roads.
At home, WREMO said people should prepare their properties by securing outdoor items that can be picked up by strong winds and make a plan for what they will do if they lose power.
They also advised creating an evacuation plan and having a grab bag ready to go, making a plan for any pets or livestock and clearing stormwater drains to help prevent surface flooding.
The latest emergency management updates can be found on WREMO's Facebook page or by listening to RNZ, New Zealand's statutory civil defence lifeline radio broadcaster.
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