DOUG FROM HAWKES BAY GIVES A RAW ACCOUNT OF HIS EVACUTION IN THE WAKE OF CYCLONE GABRIELLE

Reporting for Counterspin Media (https://t.me/CounterspinMediaNZ):

26 Feb 2023

Puketapu resident Doug gives his raw account of the evacuation of himself and his family on the morning of the flooding in the Hawkes Bay region.

Doug recounts his interaction with fire services and how they didn’t alert people earlier to get out.
Upon their return, the rescuers (fire service) needed rescuing.

Doug also expresses his concerns as to why the Regional Council did not do a check on the river levels and the lack of emergency services response.

Doug’s neighbours also took in others who had nowhere to go and hosted them for a few days. He spoke of the vulnerability and challenge in trying to make contact with emergency services, family, and friends because their was no power or reception in the area.

Doug finishes off with a very simple but powerful statement “but we are alive”.