Southland Times editorials

Extracts from editorials run after the devastating floods of January, 1984:

Saturday, January 28
Coping with catastrophe
Never before has Invercargill been so badly hit. Hundreds of homes, businesses and factories have been flooded, and the financial cost will be enormous. But it will be nothing compared with the heartbreak caused by soaked and damaged homes.

People have responded magnificently, led by a well-organised Civil Defence body capitalising on the experiences of earlier flood disasters.

There was some minor, but not harmful, confusion. At one stage the organisation was warning people by radio to stay in their homes, yet on the same medium retailers were announcing they were open for business. Some greater control must be exercised over this type of contradictory advice, otherwise the potential for tragedy will be great. In a state of emergency the authority of the Civil Defence organisation must not be questioned, even in such an indirect way.

It was a time of high drama, with people being plucked from their roofs by helicopters and others being jerked from their beds in the dead of night. For many, particularly the elderly and the young, the trauma of the occasion will not easily be erased.

Monday, January 30
Flood cost is high
While the sun shone from a near cloudless sky and the more fortunate residents of Invercargill mowed their lawns, the continual thump-thump-thump from the rotor blades of the two RNZAF helicopters engaged on rescue and supply work was a constant reminder that yesterday was no normal Sunday for the many residents in the city and province, driven from their homes by Friday's disastrous floods.

And it is only now that the enormity of the disaster is registering with many. It is obvious that it will be a long time before life in Invercargill returns to normal.

Even after the floodwaters recede the heartbreaking task of sorting out what is usable from what must be discarded, of searching for vehicles and property that have been swept away, and of cleaning up dwellings and business premises is likely to take weeks.

Only then will the scale of the loss become apparent. And for some businesses the results could be extremely serious. Damage to property is clearly going to run into millions of dollars but in most cases it will be possible for owners to obtain compensation.

What is not so readily addressed is the human cost. Miraculously, no lives have been lost but the cost in terms of distress and disruption is high and it will be years before the worst memories are erased.

On the credit side, the common danger brought out the best in Southland people who rallied around to help in hundreds of different ways and people further north have also been generous with their offers of physical and financial support. The response to a radio appeal in Northland, where more than $8000 was raised within a short time of the appeal opening, is indicative of the concern and sympathy felt by people in other parts of the country. Other appeals have also been launched.

As the cleanup gets under way the questions will begin. Why was this flood so damaging and what can be done to prevent a recurrence in the future? The floods of 1978 were described as on scale that could be expected once in 100 years. Now, only a little over five years later, 1978 levels have been greatly exceeded, particularly at Invercargill airport which is likely to be out of action for a considerable time.

Clearly, something has to be done to protect this vital community asset as well as to ensure as far as possible that citizens' homes are not again inundated. In any area bisected by rivers and streams some flooding is to be expected in times of heavy rainfall and the rainfall on Thursday night and Friday was exceptional but further precautions against a repetition of the tragic inundation of the past few days are vital.

 » Share your memories and experiences

» View audio slideshow

- © Fairfax NZ News