Volunteer Jess Bennett spearheaded last year’s pre-dawn callup for 80 lifeguards that lasted days.
Her team left behind families, including pregnant partners, to pluck people to safety across areas like Esk Valley and Pakowhai.
“People were sopping wet, they had been on their rooftops for hours,” Bennett said.
“They might have had a bag with them, they might have had a pet, and just the sheer relief I think for them to get to dry ground.”
At Tuesday night’s Search and Rescue Awards, surf lifesaving volunteers from Waimārama, Ocean Beach, Pacific and Westshore will receive New Zealand’s top award.
Using their training and skills in unprecedented conditions, they dodged live wires and debris, even helping search for bodies.
“It’s going to stick with me for a long time, as I imagine it sticks with those people involved. It’s going to stick with them for many years to come,” Harman said.
Bennett added: “For the whole community there is a lot of healing to be done but I’m also looking forward to being able to close this chapter slightly and take the learnings.”
These heroes will now be ensuring their community, their people have every chance of survival.