Tornado update #7
Wednesday May 11, 2011
Auckland Civil Defence - Albany tornado update #7
Over 378 properties have been inspected by Auckland Council building inspectors.
Civil Defence has visited 90 residents at properties impacted by the tornado to support their immediate and ongoing welfare needs.
Auckland Council waste services continue to remove debris from public areas and assist residential property owners, on a case-by-case basis, to remove large organic and inorganic materials from their property.
All stormwater assessments and remediation works are complete.
The southern end of the Albany Mega Centre remains closed. Motorist should expect some disruption to travel within the vicinity of the Albany Mega Centre.
Auckland Council building inspectors have now completed the assessment of the commercial properties at the mall and Albany Mega Centre. The status of the 5 damaged commercial buildings (as of today at 10:00am):
- Westfield Albany – minor structural damage to the west wing of the centre – will remain closed for a further month
- Albany Mega Centre – operating and functioning normally
- Placemakers – demolition continuing – surrounding car park closed
- Farmers – due to reopen tomorrow (Thursday 12th May)
- Pack’ n Save – open
Auckland Civil Defence Controller, Clive Manley says he is happy with the overall response and recovery efforts of this event.
“Civil Defence is about agencies and organisations working together in an emergency. Everyone involved came together and worked well as a team, from police and other emergency services, council staff and welfare agencies.
“Relationships are so important in an emergency, not only between the people involved in the emergency response, but also those relationships you form every day with your neighbours, the school your children attend, your colleagues at work.
“Part of being prepared for emergencies is building those relationships so in an emergency people can help each other,” he says.
ENDS