Tornado strikes Franklin

On Monday 29 September at around 10.30am, a localised tornado affected around five properties over a 3-4km path in the Ramarama area (Willow/Davis/Maxted Roads).

 

Fortunately no one was injured, however a house on Maxted Road lost its entire roof and sustained much water damage. Other properties sustained damage to house windows, barns and trees. A glass house had all of its glass blown out, much of which travelled up to 500 metres.

 

Franklin District Council’s Emergency Management Officer Andy Baker was dispatched to the location to assess the damage, ensure residents had safe accommodation and to advise property owners on next steps. He says, “It was very fortunate that the tornado struck a sparsely populated rural area, otherwise the damage would have been much more severe, and injuries to the public likely. This is a timely reminder to residents that emergency situations can occur in Franklin at any time. Are you ready? Do you have an emergency plan and supplies to last you for three days.”

 

The weather also resulted in minor flooding in Pukekohe, Patumahoe, Bombay and Tuakau.