God, Pantani, I can’t imagine what I’d be like if something like that happened to me. It’s payday tomorrow, so I’m going to fire some expat pounds at the Red Cross, which is at least doing something. I wish there was more I could do.
Are any Christchurch dopers (or families) needing to get out of the city? My parents have signed up to host some people, but they haven’t been called on yet. There’s one bedroom available, in Auckland (Sandringham) with my parents and my youngest brother. If anyone’s interested, PM me, or my email’s in my profile.
Apparently it’s true: the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree. Not saying you’re a nut: but you and your parents are good people, and I’m honored to “know” you.
We sent a little money: I get paid next Friday, and will do more then. I wish I could do more other than send funds and pray.
I can hook people (couple or single woman) up with a respite room here in Napier. PM me. Also trying to organise some farmstay type holidays.
Just wanted to acknowlege the help Chch’s been getting from overseas. Search and rescue teams especially, but there is help pouring in from everywhere and we would be struggling without it.
Very proud of how the country has mobilised (again) to help out. Loved hearing this morning about the icecream van that was travelling the hard hit suburbs, handing out free icecreams. And the guy telling that story was himself travelling hours each day to take in fresh water and hot food!
Just got off the phone to my parents, real joy in their voices that the power had come on half an hour earlier.
I’m trying to think of something I can do from over here, not much point in sending things because I imagine the post will take some time to get back to normal. I’m thinking maybe give them something to look forward to, like a weekend away in a five-star hotel in a few months time. Then I start thinking that sounds really tacky given the circumstances.
A brother-in-law is from Christchurch & has family there. Hes had screaming nightmares since it happened & is intending to take his pup tent & go up to help.
The latest statistics
THE NUMBERS
103 confirmed fatalities - four names released
228 missing
70 live rescues
10 international teams on the ground
559 rescuers on the ground
594 seen by emergency departments - 164 of those admitted to hospital
2000 people have had treatment for injuries
11 patients in intensive care
452 people in welfare centres
(John Carter said this number was down on the September quake as more people were self-evacuating the city)
20,131 calls to the Government’s help-line
Five active welfare centres
Absolutely not tacky - respite care was a huge help to people after the last quake and it’s the reason so many people are offering their homes around the country. It’s a wonderful gift. Just heard that the farmstay option was already set up. I’m slow.
Spent the day digging mud and silt from our backyard and dumping it in the ever increasing pile on the street. Was feeling a bit lonley when three guys turned up in a four wheel drive out of no where and offered to help. Ended up directing them to the neighbours who are worse off than us.
Also spent the day trying to lure one of the cats form under a neighbours house. He’s decided that earthquakes only happen at our place and so it’s a lot safer over there. Put all the pot plants outside to get rained on. Still no water.
Next job is cleaning up the rubble that is all that is left of our chimney. Hmm… perhaps I can build a brick BBQ with the remains.
Tired and sore now. Apparently I was having bad dreams last night but I never remember my dreams. Starting to get my head around things but I know there’s going to be some hard times ahead.
Right now luke warm beer out of a muddy bottle is damn good.
So Im back in Melbourne, I went there to get dad out of town.
There was the first earthquake, then he had open heart surgery 5 months ago, and had complications in his leg, he was only walking again 4 weeks ago, then this one, which was much bigger than the pictures might suggest - many of the buildings held up even though it exceeded their design specifications.
Dad was in the CBD curfew area and I had to get through the cordon with some fast talking. Its pretty bad, and the city may not recover as the whole CBD will be out of action for some time, sewage and water pipes are basically gone, etc etc. We got out of town after staying overnight in his apartment on the ground, then got accommodation with some lovely old folks.
People were being incredible, an army guy walked me for a couple of miles to get to dads place at midnight, as there was no light. Dad says he’s not going back at all as the apartment is basically gone, and all his memories are basically demolished now - his school, the town, mums school etc etc.
He’s had a tough life, but he’s quite the survivor. Just hope he gets a break from surviving for a while now.
Still having no luck reaching my friends in South Brighton.
Any word when phone lines might be working again in that part of town?
I tried emailing as well, but they were never much for emailing back soon - but have hopes they might at least go online at some point and read mine and respond.
All exchanges are supposed to be working, but there might be localised outages, ie a street down or whatever, or they have a wireless phone that needs mains power as well.
Mobiles are also working, text is your best bet if they have one.
Checking in with my dear Dopers. The situation here is as bad as it looks. The quake left September 4th in the dust as far as intensity and violence goes. This was closer, shallower, and the highest level of recorded ground shaking in New Zealand’s history. Consider that we had a 7.8 in Dusky Sound back in 2009, and this was more violent. I didn’t even know that was possible! The death toll will be at least 200, probably closer to 300. So many amazing, wonderful people injured and killed by the beautiful buildings that defined our city.
I feel so lucky to be alive right now. Love to y’all and thanks for the kind wishes. Hope all the other Christchurch Dopers were as lucky as me. I’m out of town having a quiet night before heading back in tomorrow. Still no water or power at our place! Will post in more detail when it all comes back on. Again, thank you - that anyone even remembered this lurker lived in Christchurch almost brought me to tears - and folks, BE PREPARED!!! Start your survival kit now, because you never know what will be around the corner.
I have tried every day…several times a day…and the message I get is that all lines are “busy”. I can imagine everyone is trying to call there (I lived in West Hollywood, CA and was there during several earthquakes, including Northridge) so I am not surprised that I am not getting through. I know from (horrible) experience that communications is difficult, with everyone making calls and limited connectivity.
They do not have a cell phone, just a regular land line.
I will keep trying and hope for the best.
Brighton has been hit hard. It’s probable that the telephone exchanges are down due to lack of power. The underground power lines to that area are all out so they’re talking about putting in new overhead lines. Thanks to legislation passed to deal with the last earthquake they can just bypass the legal consent process and just get an emergency order to do it.
Another day of work yesterday, digging out the in-laws place. Loads of volenteers helping which gladdened the heart with lunch handed to me out the back of a van.
Everyone’s getting tired now. The adrenaline is gone. Its just hard work.
And again, wishing you all well from across the puddle. Each day brings more and more distressing news leaving me wondering how the *HELL *you folk are coping on a day-to-day basis. Yet seeing how the communities are pulling together to keep things together reinforces my true belief that we see the true nature of the human spirit emerge in times of extreme adversity.
Bit of a shame that it takes extreme events to bring it out, but hey, never a better time etc etc.
