Supplied. Unfortunately, only low res photos sent. She was going to ask her kids for help sending over the weekend but hasn’t. Captions: Floodwaters at Karen Miller’s Kio Kio Station Road home
The flood waters have receded following the Valentine’s weekend weather bomb and Ōtorohanga residents are counting the cost.
When she had to leave her Kio Kio Station Road home on Friday the 13th, Karen Miller was worried about her house but also as to whether or not Elvis (her beloved cat) had left the building.
“I kept an eye on the water level during the night and about four o’clock in the morning I heard someone outside yelling if there was anyone here. I said it was just me and my cat,” she told The News. “A little after five, a rescue boat turned up. I grabbed a few necessities, and they paddled me out here.”
Miller left the window open for Elvis and the following day, after staying with a neighbour, she was relieved to find he hadn’t ventured far.
The water level wasn’t so high that it destroyed her home, but even ankle-deep water where it shouldn’t be can be costly.
“My laundry, which used to be a garage, was inundated. I lost a couple of freezers, a washing machine and some other things too. It also went through my garage and my car,” she said. “But I’m lucky compared to some – one of my neighbour’s houses was so badly damaged that they may not be able to move back in for a year or so.”
Miller said the support from her neighbours has been marvellous.
“The people I stayed with were absolutely wonderful, they welcomed me into their home and looked after me,” she said. “Then, they brought me back in their vehicle the next day, so I didn’t have to go through the water to check on the house and my cat.”
Neighbours pitched in to remove flood-affected items from Miller’s home and working bees involving family are planned to help complete the clean-up.
“There’s still the silt and some other damage to deal with, but the community here has been absolutely brilliant. So many people have come by to make sure I’m okay including, police and rural support people.”
As for Elvis, he won’t be helping much but just knowing he’s safe has put Miller’s mind at ease.
