As the initial shock of the devastation to large parts of the rural landscape in the North Island by Cyclone Gabrielle eases, attention now turns to the recovery and rebuild. It is time to look at the losses and the challenges that lie ahead. Unfortunately, those challenges are going to be great and many. As communications are gradually restored, a more accurate picture of the scale of devastation can be drawn. It will then be up to affected communities, as well as government and officials, to set priorities and fix the damage.
Reports from the affected areas describe the impact of the cyclone as ‘variable’. Some places have suffered little damage, while others have been hit terribly.
Early estimates suggest that up to 35% of the apple crop in Hawkes Bay could be lost. At this stage there is little knowledge or understanding of the impact on other primary sectors. However, it can be assumed that this will be major.
Source: ruralnewsgroup.co.nz