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Greymouth flood, 13th September,1988.
Total rainfall recorded in the upper Grey Catchment from the 10th to the 13th was 29.1cm.
In the Haupiri-Rotomanu area of the catchment 15.0cm of rain was recorded in 24 hours to 9am on the 13th.
Significant snowmelt was observed in the area.
About 100 people were evacauted in Kaiata, Coal Creek and Stillwater.
State Highway 73 was closed.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the Inangahua County at 9:13am on the 13th and was terminated on the 14th, due to flooding.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the Greymouth Borough and Grey County at 9:13am on the 13th and was terminated on the 16th, due to flooding. A further CDE was declared for Greymouth Borough on the 16th and was terminated on the 22nd. A DRC was appointed for the Greymouth Borough and Grey County on the 16th.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the Runanga Borough at 2:39pm on the 13th and was terminated on the 14th, due to flooding.
Evacuees In the Inangahua County: 356 people were evacuated from 183 houses.
Stopbanks along the lengths of the Grey and Ahaura Rivers were severely damaged.
Property Damage:Fences were destroyed.
Property Damage:Substantial damage was caused through silting of farmland in the lower reaches of the Grey River, and in the Buller Gorge, Rotomaunu, and Te Kinga areas.
Stock Damage:Heavy numbers of sheep and new-born lambs were swept away in the flood. In the Greymouth Borough and Grey County, 1380 sheep, 80 cattle, and six deer were killed.
Insurance Payment:Insurance Industry Payouts for the Greymouth Floods totalled $13,400,000 ($22,500,000 2008 dollars).
Multi Hazard
Snow melt was a major factor in this event, as rainfalls were not out of the ordinary.
Flooding at Dobson
Peak River FlowThe Grey River at Dobson had a peak flow of 5800 cumecs on the 13th. It was just greater than the estimated 20 year flood.
Physical Characteristic:The Grey River was 5.8m above normal.
This was the second largest event on record from 1968 to present (2005).
Greymouth recorded 111 mm (11.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Greymouth recorded 16.9cm of rain from the 10th to the 13th.
The storm dumped more rain on an already saturated catchment area.
Impact:Floodwaters swept through Greymouth on the 13th.
The water was estimated at 2.5 m deep.
Evacuees:About 400 people from 140 homes were evacuated in the Greymouth Borough.
The flooding caused major damage to the town's water supply.
Stormwater, sewage, and high pressure service pipes were broken.
Property Damage:Shop windows were smashed and goods were strewn about the streets.
Some families lost virtually all their possessions.
There were road blocks and entry restrictions in Greymouth.
The flooding was far worse than the flood of May, and was said to be the worst flooding in Greymouth’s history.
200 Greymouth houses were flooded.
The Grey River rose 6 m above normal.
The Grey River flow was estimated to have a return period of over 120 years.
Thick silt was deposited over much of the town with a lot of it contaminated with oil and sewerage.
The borough council alone could face a repair bill of about $1.5 million ($2,500,000 2008 dollars) for damage caused to underground services and streets.
The Greymouth Harbour Board faced an estimated minimum repair bill of $59,283 ($99,326 2008 dollars), but a realistic figure would be $100,000 ($170,000 2008 dollars).
Property Damage:A third of the 18,000 books in the library were lost in the flood, including the Priceless Pioneer Library.
The Greymouth mayor estimated the damage from the flood would cost $45 million ($75,400,000 2008 dollars), with all the cost to private, business and public property and personal losses taken into account.Date of Photo13th September,1988Map[1] External LinkNIWA West Coast Flooding
Robyn Edwards
Ooh now thats really scarey!
Peter Daphne Coombs
It was
Chloe Leis
Mat Oates
Annie Van Looy
shaw was had to swim out of my house in William st by the race coarse, swam round to the eagle where pete ray let me stay for free, till the water droped, good hearted man
Rebekah Geer
I remember you doing that Annie Van Looy!
Anna Baird
wow!!!!
Kevin Gwatkin
No wonder the wall was built! I remember the flooding in Preston road and thought it was fun at the time. But I was only a kid then
Christine Farrell
was there
Peter Lambert
What a f***ing mess.Thanks to Barry Dallas?? and others wall was built.
David Mulloy
I have the 20 year greymouth star anniversary of the floods of may 19 2008
Raquel Wilson
Alison Hibbs, I can just see nana's old house in Arney Street!!!!!
Helen Brennan
Just shows the power of water bobby
Christine Farrell
Memories are in photos they are treasured
Christine Farrell
I'm not a tourist I'm full blood coaster!
Christine Farrell
I myself just look at it and think that's the past look where we are now
Christine Farrell
I done think the worst.
Martin James
I was teaching at the high school and living at 10 palmerston street .. I think
Christine Farrell
I was working at police station it came to second floor
Glenys Elizabeth Martin
These photo s are part of our past, do YOU Bill Johnson throw away you photo s of memories, perhaps the tourists will realize this is a History page is of the cooast History not a Tourist brochure.
Carole N Brent Shefford
We lived in Preston rd in 88 & had to demolish our house after the 2nd flood & I don't think we should forget the great community spirit & coast attitude that makes us true coasters in times of crisis, it is afterall a huge part of our history & this is a History page!!! Should we also forget about our other times of crisis ie: Brunner, Strongman & Pike. I think NOT
Brenda Barry Brown
where was 88 Preston R.d Carole cant recall that number in Preston Rd.
Carole N Brent Shefford
I meant in 1988 Brenda Barry Brown.....we lived at number 17 ;)
Kevin Gwatkin
Hi former neighbour Brenda Barry Brown! We were at 19 however I thought you were at 15 and the Butts were at 17.
Brian McIntyre
Sorry I missed you today Brenda Barry Brown but Barry and I had a nice hour reliving the early 60s. Good to see you again Barry.
Brenda Barry Brown
yes you had just left when i arrived home had som things needing doing today been a busy couple days
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