‘I was getting pulled away’: Elderly woman describes horrific flooding

For RNZ

An elderly woman on Auckland's north shore said she was told to jump on her bed to escape flooding during Friday's deluge, but her community housing provider said as soon as the situation was clear they called for evacuation help.

Stephanie (who wanted to be identified by her first name only) told RNZ For the first time the organization that runs the town where he lives, the town of Alma Court in Milford, gave him that message after his second call for help.

He first called Haumaru Housing around noon on Friday, January 27.

The 77-year-old woman said she knew all along that the constant rain would cause significant damage.

The area had already been hit by the weather bomb in March last year.

She said she contacted Haumaru Housing after water started coming out of the sewer behind the property.

"Well, I said 'honestly, you have to send someone' and all they sent was a plumber."

"He took one look and said 'this is dangerous, we can't do anything'."

Stephanie said she called her housing provider again.

"I said that water is coming in, I can't handle it, and they told me 'jump on your bed.'"

But she told them that she needed someone to come rescue her.

"At that time, in front, the whole garden and everything was covered with water like a lake."

At least three other neighboring houses had also been flooded.

Stephanie said the water rose from ankle level to "chest deep" in a matter of minutes.

"I had to think about saving my life."

Dressed only in sweatpants and a T-shirt, Stephanie said, she grabbed a bag and jacket and left the house.

Stephanie said her car was submerged in water.

"We went out the driveway, and that was quite a job, it took three guys because I'm so light they were pulling me away."

Stephanie said one of the men who rescued her Friday told her the force of the water was so severe that he was worried even he could be swept away.

She said the flood waters came down like a "raging river."

"I think we should have been evacuated sooner."

Stephanie, who had existing health problems, said she lost feeling in her hands and feet after coming out of the flood.

His car was insured, but he did not have contents insurance.

Stephanie said that the town's residents shouldn't have to foot the bill.

Haumaru Housing said in a statement that they called emergency services as soon as it became apparent that an urgent situation was developing in the village and requested priority assistance for their tenants.

“We are reviewing the call log and our conversations with the tenant in question, and the action that was taken at that time, but we are confident that we responded in a timely and appropriate manner to the concerns that were raised.

“The flooding at Alma Court was an unprecedented event, as the nearby creek overflowed its banks after excessive rain on Friday, and our crews responded as quickly as possible to the situation as it evolved.

“We continue to be in direct contact with the six Alma Court tenants who were evacuated and provide ongoing assistance as needed.”

Haumaru Housing said it had carried out assessments in affected villages and identified priority repairs to tenants' houses.

"Our contractors have been on site since Saturday attending to the cleanup."