Flood Response
Hydro Response has carried out a number of flood response deployments, both nationally and internationally. This is where our experience counts, fighting real floods.
Rangiora, North Canterbury
Heavy rain saw the town’s storm water network at capacity with overflowing drains. An Aqua Barrier was deployed across an intersection preventing the storm water from flowing down the street to neighbouring properties.
Aqua Barriers were deployed around a home to divert flood waters from a nearby stream which over topped its bank.
Waitaki River Township, South Canterbury, New Zealand
Due to extraordinarily heavy rain in the Waitaki River catchment, lake and river levels had risen with the Meridian Waitaki power station dam running at full capacity. Water had to be spilled from the dam in order to maintain safe levels. The released water raised the Waitaki River to a level that caused a breach in the river bank adjacent to the Waitaki River township.
Hydro Response was asked to assist in protecting the township. Members of the local rural fire and civil defence teams worked through the night, deploying the Aqua, Watergate and Geodesign barriers. River water was kept at bay while the flooded areas around the homes were pumped dry and property protected from damage.
Fernside, North Canterbury, New Zealand
When a stream had breached its banks and had made its way across a number of lifestyle blocks in the Fernside area of North Canterbury, threatening one of the homes in its path, Hydro Response was asked to respond, where we deployed an Aqua Barrier and diverted water around the home.
Sefton, North Canterbury, New Zealand
When the stream behind the town of Sefton in North Canterbury burst its banks after heavy rain, Hydro Response was asked by Waimakariri Civil Defence to assist in protecting a home that was in direct line of the flood waters and had been flooded out a year earlier.
Hydro Response deployed two Aqua Barriers and diverted the water from the home keeping it dry.
Charleville, Queensland, Australia
Hydro Response was asked by Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) in Australia, if we were able to assist in the installing of 375m of the Pallet Barrier borrowed from New South Wales, to protect the town of Charleville, approximately 800 km inland from Brisbane. This was due to the rising Warrego River which flows past the town.
Staff from EMANZ and Palmerston North Rescue Team together with Clay Griffin, Managing Director of Hydro Response, flew out of the country two hours later to Australia and spent the following days assisting with the flood response for this community, keeping it safe from floodwaters.
Christchurch man helps save town (from The Press 24 January 2008)
Clay Griffin was part of a New Zealand emergency team called in to build a flood barrier for the town of Charleville, which was under threat from rapidly rising floodwaters.
Griffin, the managing director of Christchurch company Hydro Response Ltd, said that after receiving a call last Friday he was on a plane within hours -- heading to Charleville, 780 km west of Brisbane.
Levee equipment was flown in on two Royal Australian Air Force Hercules aircraft that evening, leaving Griffin and his team of three other Kiwis and Australian volunteers to battle the flood through the night.
Apart from an hour's sleep at 5am, the Kiwis worked on until the 375m-long flood wall was in place.
Many people who had been evacuated from their homes came to help, said Griffin. "They were great. They all got behind us and anything we wanted they went out and got it."
Their work was acknowledged by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who made a surprise visit on Sunday. Charleville's 4000-strong population had been pretty nervous about the rising river, but there was relief as the hastily built levee did its job, said Griffin.
The Warrego River reached its 6m peak about noon on Tuesday