Friends, neighbours and even total strangers were all part of the recovery journey for Linda Scott.
The 73-year-old grandmother is one of the first to move back into her yellow-stickered flood-affected Carroll Street home but says she couldn’t have done it without the support of the Wairoa community.
Linda has lived in the Wairoa district for 45 years, moving from the country into town around 18 years ago after her husband Mike passed away.
On the morning of Cyclone Gabrielle, she was awoken by a knock on her door and a Police officer telling her to pack a bag and get out as the river was rising.
Not being a driver, Linda had to catch a ride and spent her first few nights in an emergency evacuation centre.
When she could return to her villa to survey the damage, the floodwaters had seeped through every room,
and although she did not see the water at its peak, she was told it was about half a metre deep inside with 20cm of silt sediment on the veranda.
Linda spent the next six weeks staying with various friends until she could rent a flat. “I’ve had lots of help and support, which has been the difference for me.”
Linda credits her insurance company for getting her rebuild underway
so quickly. They sent Parthenon Construction from Christchurch, and they completed the rebuild, including project management and using local tradies.
Inside, Linda’s house was relined, repainted, had new carpet and vinyl laid and a new kitchen and bathroom.
Linda described being fully insured as a lifesaver but added it does come at a cost.
While she is grateful to be back in her home, there is still a lot of work ahead. She is still unpacking from her shed into her house, with everything needing to be wiped down. She says
gardening is like pulling weeds out of concrete, although she was surprised to find two silver beet plants heartily growing in the silt.
While much of Linda’s furniture
was salvageable, beds and bedding were ruined, and Linda is grateful to Wairoa Recovery for a new bed and armchair.
“I am just so pleased to be back in my home, and it is clean and dry. Thank you to everyone who helped, especially those who helped empty my house. I didn’t even know who some people were, but they still helped. Neighbours, friends and strangers, everyone came together as a community, which was really nice.”
The 73-year-old grandmother is one of the first to move back into her yellow-stickered flood-affected Carroll Street home but says she couldn’t have done it without the support of the Wairoa community.
Linda has lived in the Wairoa district for 45 years, moving from the country into town around 18 years ago after her husband Mike passed away.
On the morning of Cyclone Gabrielle, she was awoken by a knock on her door and a Police officer telling her to pack a bag and get out as the river was rising.
Not being a driver, Linda had to catch a ride and spent her first few nights in an emergency evacuation centre.
When she could return to her villa to survey the damage, the floodwaters had seeped through every room,
and although she did not see the water at its peak, she was told it was about half a metre deep inside with 20cm of silt sediment on the veranda.
Linda spent the next six weeks staying with various friends until she could rent a flat. “I’ve had lots of help and support, which has been the difference for me.”
Linda credits her insurance company for getting her rebuild underway
so quickly. They sent Parthenon Construction from Christchurch, and they completed the rebuild, including project management and using local tradies.
Inside, Linda’s house was relined, repainted, had new carpet and vinyl laid and a new kitchen and bathroom.
Linda described being fully insured as a lifesaver but added it does come at a cost.
While she is grateful to be back in her home, there is still a lot of work ahead. She is still unpacking from her shed into her house, with everything needing to be wiped down. She says
gardening is like pulling weeds out of concrete, although she was surprised to find two silver beet plants heartily growing in the silt.
While much of Linda’s furniture
was salvageable, beds and bedding were ruined, and Linda is grateful to Wairoa Recovery for a new bed and armchair.
“I am just so pleased to be back in my home, and it is clean and dry. Thank you to everyone who helped, especially those who helped empty my house. I didn’t even know who some people were, but they still helped. Neighbours, friends and strangers, everyone came together as a community, which was really nice.”
Carroll Street resident Linda Scott is thrilled to be back in her home, which was yellow-stickered after Cyclone Gabrielle.