Ashburton Guardian, Thursday, September 12, 2013

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ASHBURTON

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Thursday, Sept 12, 2013

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Big blow rattles residents GUARDIAN REPORTERS Tuesday’s huge wind storm is being hailed by some as equal to the big blow of 1975 that caused widespread havoc across Canterbury. Daniel Corbett, from MetService, said it was unlikely that wind speeds were as strong as the 1975 storm. “It was a strong storm nonetheless,” he said. Wind gusts reached 130km/h at the Ashburton Airport at the peak of the storm. Many parts of the Ashburton District were without power yesterday and as night fell, many were looking at their second powerless night. Lines crews from EA Networks were out at first light yesterday beginning the massive job of reconnecting the district’s network, a job they had been unable to attempt on Tuesday because of the dangers posed by ongoing high winds. Last night power was still off in most areas east of State Highway One and in the foothills. It will be restored progressively across these areas but some pockets in the Eiffelton and Three Springs areas may not have an electricity supply until Saturday, EA Networks district network manager Brendon Quinn said. Individual properties where

A vehicle parked in the grounds of Mayfield school was left in the wrong place at the wrong time and was crushed by a tree blown down in Tuesday’s high winds. PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 110913-TM-064

power has been lost because of fallen trees may not have their power restored until after the network lines are restored. While Ashburton homes escaped the overnight blackout, falling trees that broke lines and uprooted power poles made life difficult for rural people. Generators were the must-have item on dairy farms.

No power also meant no school for pupils at eight schools in rural areas which were forced to close for the day. Ashburton chief fire officer Alan Burgess said the Ashburton station alone was called to at least 16 incidents overnight Tuesday, and firefighters were still in demand yesterday as unstable buildings and fallen trees

continued to cause widespread disruption. When the winds finally abated the big clean-up began as residents awoke to roads blocked by fallen trees, dangling power wires and for many rural people mangled irrigators, broken fences and damaged farm buildings. Mayor Angus McKay praised the work of volunteers who had

pitched in around the district to help their neighbours out, clearing trees from roads and driveways. “There’s been a big effort made by people not directly affected and for that the district thanks them,” he said.

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