NZDF: Home Turf

Cries for help slice through the roar of water as Storm and Davey arrive in Esk Valley. ⚠️ This episode includes references to the tragic loss of life in the Esk Valley area during Cyclone Gabrielle. Listener discretion is advised. SSGT Davey Forbes and SGT Storm Harrison arrive at 03:30 as water pours through Esk Valley. As they plough into the flood, a massive surge swamps the Unimog and forces a hasty retreat. It’s a near miss that almost ends in disaster. They must regroup, reassess and evacuate those they can. When they return to the valley at daybreak, they’re confronted by scenes of total devastation. This is home turf, and the enormity of it weighs heavily as the search for survivors begins. Storm and Davy recount the harrowing events of February 14th when Cyclone Gabrielle struck Hawke’s Bay. Everyone had under-estimated the scale of Cyclone Gabrielle, but fortunately, Storm had returned home early from a major training exercise in Waiouru. As the cyclone unleashed its fury, they mobilised at 2 AM to rescue a trapped family between Napier and Taupo. But on the way, they discovered the unfolding disaster in Esk Valley. They battled treacherous conditions to reach those who’d become trapped by rising floodwaters and were almost swept away themselves. Local knowledge and camaraderie proved crucial in their response as hours turned into days and days into weeks. Despite emotional and physical exhaustion, they pushed forward, driven by the connection to their home turf. (See below the meaning of Turangawaewae). Both men underscore the importance of preparedness and local expertise in disaster response. Their narrative also highlights the collaborative efforts between military, police, firefighters, and locals, painting a vivid picture of resilience and heroism in the face of disaster. If you enjoyed listening to HOME TURF, please take a moment to rate and review the episode. This ensures more people will discover these stories from Cyclone Gabrielle. UNDER THE WEATHER has been featured on RNZ and Stuff. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360795376/devastation-healing-cyclone-gabrielles-untold-stories https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2019002009/tales-of-horror-and-heroism-in-cyclone-gabrielle-podcast Please note the following: No one died on Glengarry Rd SOP = standard operating procedure CDEM = Civil Defence Emergency Management Te Reo Translations Aue an exclamation of annoyance or distress Mahi work Mana a presence of power, authority or status Marae a complex of meeting areas at the heart of a traditional Maori community. Used for formal and informal occasions. Marae atea: the open courtyard or public forum in front of the meeting house Wharenui: the meeting house itself (also often referred to as the marae) Wharekai: dining and kitchen areas Panui An announcement or message Tamariki Children Turangawaewae The direct translation is a place to stand, but the meaning is much more powerful. A place of origin, connection and deep roots. Whanau Family Whenua Land, territory or domain. Chapters 00:00 Intro and recap of Episode 2 00:38 February 13th 05:10 Davey gets a call-up. 08:00 Bay View 10:45 Getting to Esk Valley 13:25 Eskdale School 16:20 Taking the plunge 19:20 Regroup 21:00 Evacuate 22:40 A small world 23:30 A good swimmer 24:05 A brief diversion 24:45 Back in Bay View @ 06:30 26:00 Don’t die 26:25 HQ 27:45 Triage 29:50 CDEM 32:10 Esk Valley 33:10 Cutting a track 34:05 The Navy SEAL brothers 35:30 Search and Rescue 40:20 Quicksand 42:45 The cavalry arrive 44:00 Eskdale Drive 50:30-50:45⚠️ 52:20-53:00 ⚠️ 50:50 Emotional impacts 54:30 Control & command. 58:20 Beyond Esk Valley 58:30-58:45 ⚠️ 1:03:20 Pan Pac Mill 1:05:50 Local knowledge 1:07:20 An uncertain future 1:07:45 Next week…. Follow us on social media https://www.facebook.com/cyclonegabriellestories.nz https://www.instagram.com/cyclonegabriellestories.nz/ Transcripts AI generated