1984 Floods devastate Southland
A record one-day total of 84.8 millimetres of rain caused extensive surface flooding in the streets of Invercargill, Riverton, Otautau, Tuatapere and Bluff. A state of emergency was declared in the early hours of 27 January.
Matters were made worse in Invercargill where a high tide prevented flood water from draining into the estuary. Invercargill airport had 3 metres of water in the terminal.
Around 1200 homes were left uninhabitable and more than 4000 people had to be evacuated. More than 5000 tonnes of ruined personal possessions were discarded and hundreds of flooded cars were abandoned. No human lives were lost, but livestock losses were heavy – more than 12,000 sheep, 330 pigs, 100 cattle and 75 deer were drowned. The total bill for the damage caused by this severe weather system was $55 million.
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