Heavy rainfall can result in surface flooding. When large high tides or ‘king tides’ occur, only a small-to-moderate storm surge is needed to flood some areas.
A simple way to protect your property is to place sandbags in places that will divert water away from your house.
When using sandbags to protect your property, place them:
- across doorways for houses on a concrete pad
- across a garage door.
However, sandbags are unlikely to stop water from coming under a house or other access points. Water seeps through sandbags, even when well stacked in place. Water protection can be improved by using them in conjunction with sheets of PVC.
Remember – if you are in danger or your property is under immediate threat during a storm event, please contact emergency services on 111.
Purchasing sandbags
It is recommended you purchase your own. Sandbags can be purchased from Mitre10, Bunnings and other building and hardware stores.
Please note: There is a bylaw that prohibits the removal of sand from our beaches and foreshores.
Sandbags may be in limited supply during a significant flooding event. It is best to be prepared and purchase/prepare your own sandbags prior to an impending flood event.
For more information on what to do in an emergency, visit www.getready.govt.nz or www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz
Guide to filling and using sandbags (497kb pdf)