Auckland floods: What does a state of emergency mean?

Author: Amy Wiggins,
Publish Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2023, 4:12pm

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown today announced they city’s state of emergency would be extended for another seven days after record-breaking rainfall caused widespread floods and landslides.

Brown said the extension was necessary because Auckland remained in the response phase with new damage and risks to the public continuing to be reported, meaning access to emergency powers was still required.

The situation continued to require a coordinated response between partner agencies given the scale and widespread nature of the emergency.

Brown noted the state of emergency could be terminated early if it was no longer required.

A state of emergency can be called in a situation where there is a risk of loss of life or property and normal emergency services were likely to be overwhelmed.

So what does that mean for you?

For the most part, the state of emergency does not affect daily life.

Schools will be open next week if they are not already and people can go to work as usual.

The state of emergency simply means agencies are able to access some powers they usually do not have.

It means council staff are able to enter buildings at any time during working hours to assess the safety, evacuate people and prohibit the use of the building if it is deemed unsafe - and police have the power to support them in doing that.

Already more than 200 homes around the city have been red-stickered after being assessed meaning they are too unsafe to enter while more than 1000 homes had been yellow-stickered which meant access was restricted. Another 1900 homes have been white-stickered meaning they can be entered because there is no obvious damage.

A police officer places a red sticker on a house on Shore Rd, Remuera, after heavy rain caused landslips and widespread destruction across the Auckland Region. Photo / Alex Burton

The state of emergency also means that the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group have powers relating to the provision of the relief of distress including emergency food, clothing and shelter.

Last night more than 4000 people were in emergency accomodation.

It also allows officials to clear roads and other public places as well as remove, dispose of, secure or make safe any dangerous structures or materials. They can also prohibit access to roads and public places. More than 29 roads remain closed.

It allows Fire and Emergency New Zealand to enter any properties and shore up or pull down structures that have been damaged and provide a danger to life or property.

Members of FENZ Urban Search and Rescue work with structural engineers to assess red-stickered homes in Titirangi after the devastating floods that hit Auckland last Friday. Photo / Dean Purcell