Beachfront Residents Asked to Keep Eye on Swells

Hastings Emergency Management Operations centre is no longer on alert but is keeping a close eye on sea conditions leading up to the high tide at 1.20am tomorrow morning.

Residents of 21 houses at Haumoana and other houses at Ocean Beach have been told the risk has reduced enough for them to return home.

However, Senior Sergeant Ross Smith says authorities are advising beachfront residents of Hawke’s Bay coastal communities to be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen at the next high tide and authorities make the call to evacuate overnight.

“At the last high tide beachfront houses at Haumoana were taking a pounding, with some windows smashed and debris being thrown up onto properties,” Senior Sergeant Smith says.

“Swells have subsided from their peak of up to 6m but we’re still calling for people to be vigilant.”

Beaches remain unsafe until the swells reduce completely and as a result police are continuing to ask members of the public to stay away from beaches and low-lying waterways.

MetService says swells will continue to reduce over the next few days from this afternoon.