Power outage and severe weather - Buller community urged to limit travel and prepare

The Buller Emergency Operations Centre is advising residents in the Buller District to take extra care today as the region experiences both a Yellow Heavy Rain Watch (8 am–6 pm) and a Yellow Strong Wind Watch (9 am–5 pm), while also dealing with the impacts of a widespread power outage affecting much of the top of the South Island.

Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) are currently on standby across Buller, Grey, and Westland Districts. A team is active in the Buller EOC, monitoring the situation and coordinating with local agencies.

Be aware that there may be intermittent power outages as the weather event continues.

The outage is putting pressure on Chorus’s backup systems, and we ask the Buller Community to be patient as power is turned on.

Safety and preparedness advice

“We’re asking residents to stay home, if possible, today,” says Controller Ian Harvey, of Buller EOC. “With strong winds, ongoing rain, and limited power across the district, this is not a day to be out unless absolutely necessary.”

Residents are urged to:

Limit travel - avoid unnecessary trips while power and communication systems are under strain.

Check on neighbours, especially those who may need support or be unaware of the outage.

Use personal generators safely - generators can feed electricity back into the grid, creating risk for line workers. Always follow safety instructions and isolate from the mains.

Conserve phone battery and limit non-essential use of mobile networks while systems are running on backup.

Stay informed

Follow West Coast Emergency Management and Buller District Council on social media for updates.

Monitor MetService warnings for the latest weather alerts.

Contact WCEM on the CDEM Duty Line: 03 769 9323 for Civil Defence-related questions.

In an emergency, call 111.

WCEM and local councils will continue monitoring the evolving situation and share updates as new information becomes available.

-ENDS-

Media Contact: Cindy Fleming
West Coast Emergency Management
📧 cindy.fleming@wcrc.govt.nz
📞 021 190 2298

Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.