The aftermath of massive flooding that swept through the Esk Valley during Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ/ Sally Murphy
The man in charge of the emergency response during the deadly Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke's Bay has apologised to victims' families under questioning from their lawyer.
A coronial inquiry into the 13 deaths related to the cyclone in the region is underway, and is looking into the emergency response during the weather event.
An EMA (Emergency Mobile Alert), was not issued for Esk Valley until 5.19am on 14 February 2023, by which time two people had already drowned and many more residents were clutching onto their rooftops, desperately hoping to be rescued.
When Cyclone Gabrielle struck the region on 13 February, Edaan Lennan was employed by Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) in Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (HBCDEM) Group Emergency Management Office.
Because the main group controller for Civil Defence Ian Macdonald was away on leave during the cyclone, he put Lennan and Iain Maxwell into the top role in his absence.
In Lennan's evidence on Monday, he explained why he decided not to issue a mobile alert to Esk Valley residents three hours earlier, when he learnt the Esk River reached its highest ever recorded level. He said it was because he feared it would put people in harms way if they tried to evacuate through floodwaters, slips and debris in the middle of the night.
Cyclone Gabrielle led to catastrophic flooding in the Esk Valley, where floodwaters and silt washed through houses and buried vehicles. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
On Tuesday morning the victims families lawyer Jane Glover told Lennan that following those statements, there was "disquiet" from families, who felt Lennan withheld information from people because of his lack of situational awareness of what was happening on the ground.
"They feel there is almost an assumption that people are somewhat stupid and can't make intelligent decisions for themselves based on information... a sense of a 'we know better' attitude - can you understand that perspective?" asked Glover.
"I can and I apologise if that is the way it came across, that is certainly not my intention," said Lennan.
He went on to say there was a risk of sending many people into harms way by using an EMA.
"Yes it would have woken people up, absolutely, and it might have given them a head start in a terrible situation that they found themselves in.. but it could have also had unintended consequences."
However, Lennan said if he was in that situation, he would want to be making informed decisions for his family.
"I very much apologise for not being able to give people that information," he said.
In earlier questioning from Glover, Lennan said all the criteria for issuing an EMA had been met, however he had misunderstood the protocol.
Follding in Te Karaka during the storm. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Glover showed the court a number of 'E Texts' sent by Tairawhiti's civil defence to people in areas that could be at risk of flooding during Cyclone Gabrielle.
The first of those messages was days before the cyclone hit, on 11 February, warning people in flood prone areas about the orange heavy rain warning from MetService
Over the next 48 hours, several more similar messages were sent to more than 1500 people who could be at risk, and at 10.18pm on 13 February the Gisborne District Council Flood Warning Officers sent out this emergency text alert:
"River levels and surface water us causing us serious concerns all over Gisborne City and the region. For those residents who are in low lying areas or near rivers, please monitor the situation and evacuate to your nearest evacuation centre if necessary."
By 11.53pm another emergency text was issued:
"The Waipaoa River at Kanakanaia Te Karaka has reached 8.2m meaning those in the Ormond township should evacuate to higher ground or head to GDC welfare centres at Te Pohu o Rawiri Marae Ranfurly Street'.
Glover asked Lennan if he was surprised to see the use of ETexts in Tairawhiti to communicate important 'granular information' to residents at risk.
"It's the first time I've seen this... but some councils around the country do have ETexting ability and systems," he said.
But Lennan said the tool isn't available in Hawke's Bay. Glover replied that Hawke's Bay residents who were forced to flee for their lives felt 'shortchanged' in terms of the lack of information from officials.
"I can understand that," said Lennan.
Esk Valley in the aftermath of the cyclone. Photo: RNZ / Jemima Huston
He explained that emergency management was led by CDEM groups and governed and managed by local councils, which meant some regions have different systems and levels of service for residents, such as the capability to send ETexts.
"In my opinion.. this would have been helpful to have a texting or some sort of system that didn't have the downsides of the EMA system, but abilty to send out targetted information.
"This is a good idea and doesn't necessarily need to be going through a local council or an Emergency Coordination Centre," said Lennan.
Glover asked Lennan whether with the benefit of hindsight, he would do anything differently if he was in the same situation again, with the same information.
"If we had known what was going to arrive, and what was going to happen... if there was any inclination of the scale and severity, we would have done a lot of things differently.
"I've asked myself that question a lot," he said.
Hawke's Bay Civil Defence is currently undergoing a [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/539677/hawke-s-bay-civil-defence-ready-for-revamp-in-wake-of-cyclone-gabrielle three-year overhaul, following an independent review after Cyclone Gabrielle which made 70 recommendations for improvements.
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