Residents of Gore and Mataura have been told to prepare to evacuate as flood levels continue to rise in Southland.
Emergency Management Southland tonight said levels in the Mataura catchment were likely to reach similar levels to the 1999 floods.
In a statement it said two peaks were expected to pass through Gore tomorrow - the first at 5am and the second at approximately 12.30pm.
Existing stop banks had been designed to hold this volume of water. Additional precautions and support, like sandbagging, were being put in place in some areas and residents are being asked to be ready to evacuate if required.
The warning comes after flooding forced the evacuation of about 50 people from a street in Gore today.
The evacuations came on a day when a state of emergency was declared for Southland and many roads in the region were closed.
The council advised this evening it had activated a welfare centre in the town.
Council deputy chief executive Dr Ian Davidson-Watts said anyone stranded in Gore or forced out of their homes should go to the Calvin Church, in Robertson St.
Emergency Management Southland said residents would be advised once it was confirmed they needed to evacuate, but they urged people to prepare to leave their homes.
Roads remain closed throughout the region and there is surface flooding on many of those that are still open.
All schools in the Gore district have been closed for tomorrow.
Emergency Management Southland controller Angus McKay said people should avoid unnecessary travel, check on their neighbours and follow the Civil Defence Southland facebook page and website for updates.
Lumsden and Riversdale residents are advised to reduce toilet flushing as the pumps are under significant pressure from the extra water.
Dr Davidson-Watts said there was a community response team at the Mataura service centre, working at keeping an eye on the flood protection and dealing with any issues in the town.
The ouvea premix - a fertiliser premix produced from toxic aluminium dross materials and stored at the Mataura paper mill - was one of the first considerations for the Council.
The owners were contacted earlier today and advised to put their flood protection defences in place, which has happened.
Council staff and contractors were checking roads and clearing drains / culverts throughout the day.
“We also sent a team of staff to talk to people in Gore’s worst affect streets to make sure they were okay.
“People were generally very positive and appreciated the call.”
