Fatal tornado smashes Auckland

[beagle]

From comments here and watching the news, it looks like it skirted the main whenuapai base.
As for rehousing these people with damaged houses, I take it there are still quite a few empty ones around.
I would grab a tent and pitch it in the Sgts mess beer garden.

[camtech]

Lived in Wallingford Way way back in 1981 and Ngahue Crescent 1973-1978.

Hope the air force gets accommodation sorted fairly quick for those who have lost their homes.

[obiwan27]

Sorry to read and watch this news. It's been a rough time lately for natural disasters so here's hoping there are no more repeats. Best wishes to all those affected and condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

[McFly]

Dec 6, 2012 20:37:14 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Is the Spitfire still on its pole?

Got power for a few minutes from a porta-gen so hopped onto WONZ..

Spitfire is fine and still 'flying'. Tornado formed just on the outer edge of the base perimeter fence and headed into Whenuapai Village so away from the HQ where she is located. Nevertheless, even with the robust internal frame, solid plinth and concrete footings, I don't think she would have survived had it been in the path judging by the amount and type of damage inflicted around here...!

[beagle]

So where is Mr Mc flys abode now, not Kay Cresent as that place looks a bit of a mess.

[ngatimozart]

The PM said on 3 News that a C130 on the hard at WP had been moved sideways by the wind.

[phil]

We lost roof tiles, but I refitted those on Thursday evening before too much water got in. Couldn't get to the house at all today, plod wouldn't let anyone in.

Just heard the cordon has been lifted, although there is still power out to a lot of houses (including mine), but I'll be heading home tomorrow to start the clean up. Someone has kindly put the worlds largest skip bin outside my front gate so that's handy.

It was rubbish day and none of it had been collected yet, so there's rubbish strewn everywhere.

All in all we got off very lightly compared to many.

[suthg]

I watched TV1 news last night and a brief story just before the 6:25 weather indicated a smaller tornado struck at Hamurana, edge of Lake Rotorua around from Ngongotaha, where a man had been lifted off his feet and shifted 200ft (shocked but safely). Those construction workers had no chance unfortunately, and now there are huge after event issues in Hobsonville with houses destroyed and people's lives uprooted. Sad, very sad.

[Dave Homewood]

I am glad to hear your place and you are ok Phil.

[haughtney1]

The mother inlaw lives about 2 k's away from where this happened, all she reported was a lot of wind and lightening, strangely enough it seems to follow her around this weather...she was parked in the exact spot in Albany about 18 months ago when the twister hit the farmers roof and placemakers...it spun her car around.
Our friends in Hobby road about 500m away had a tree blow down and had the power out for a bit.
Condolences to the families of those 3 poor buggers...nobody gets up to go to work..and doesn't plan on going home :-(

[phil]

Dec 7, 2012 21:34:15 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I am glad to hear your place and you are ok Phil.

Thanks Dave.

Got home just before 0800, some kind people (I think it was MSS personnel) had been around and picked up much of the rubbish.

In short order we had an electrician come in and check the place out and reconnect the power, followed by a number of other people who assessed the damage, others who hauled away the fallen trees and a team of suitably attired personnel checking for asbestos around all the properties.

[ngatimozart]

Pleased to hear all is well with you and yours Phil. The better half was saying we know what it's like to come home and find the house a disaster zone. We are thinking of you and all the others caught up in this and we hope you all have a Merry Christmas.