Fences and roofs cleared in Levin

RED-STICKERED homes, boarded-up windows, missing roofs and demolished fences have been left in the wake of Friday’s devastating tornado in the Lower North Island town of Levin.

More than 250 volunteers turned out yesterday morning to continue the clean-up around the 33 homes and the parks left damaged and scattered with debris by the wild weather.

Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden said seven properties were severely damaged, eight had moderate damage and 18 had minor problems.

Four families spent Friday night in emergency accommodation, while others stayed with friends and families.

The Horowhenua District Council had designated the southern half of the town under the Building Act to provide powers to inspect, direct evacuations, and carry out or require work to remove or reduce risks.

Some people living on the edge of the tornado’s path were still waiting yesterday to find out if they could stay in their homes.

Joey Close was one of those, living with teen grandkids Zoe and Konnor Lonsdale opposite red-stickered homes.

Zoe said she had been in bed in the sleepout when she heard a crash, and thought the roof had come off. It was the neighbour’s fence slamming into the shed.

In the house, two windows were smashed, and a piece of the roof came off. Fences were down, and trees fell over a car.

Around the corner, volunteers were clearing the site of a house that had been partly destroyed by fire in February, the tornado finishing the demolition.

On one side, Sam Fletcher was at home with his two children and brother. He said his children were ‘‘freaked out’’ when they heard the wind, and while he was trying to reassure them, the fence was ripped out, and the shed lifted off.

They stayed at home on Friday night, but were waiting for an assessor to find out if the leaks in the roof could be repaired.

On the other side of the empty section, a woman’s house was still standing, but wrecked.

‘‘The inside of her house was all over the main road.’’

A mayoral relief fund has been set up, with central government matching the council’s $100,000 kickstart to help those needing welfare support.