Christchurch Cathedral (before), by Kirsty Helen Dunn
New Zealand kids learn at primary school what to do in an earthquake. I remember an exhilarating and terrifying shake when I was about 11; Little Brother and I home alone clutching each other in a doorway. When I moved to Welly the shakes were common place, its was easy to become indifferent to an almost daily event. And it was always going to be Welly that got the ‘big one’; the coastal port with an airport built on reclaimed swampland would effectively cut us off from the rest of the country. Glass from skyscrapers would shatter, deadly to those below. We pay our earthquake insurance levies, bottled water sits under office desks, families develop their emergency plan.
And every now and then there would be a decent tremor with that sickening sway that can cause an ardent atheist to lean into prayer.
But it was Christchurch; the flat sprawling town, modeled on its Kentish namesake that took the brunt force of mother nature. These images show just how devastating this quake has been. South Islanders pride themselves on being a stoic lot*; they would not appreciate gushing pride, but the grim determination on office workers turned rescuers, who are risking their own lives to save others; just doing what they can with no training to deal with the physical or mental anguish makes me tear up. Air New Zealand with a history of awesomeness put on special fares. At midnight Tuesday NZ, Wednesday was booked out but people can fly with 2 bags from Christchurch to Auckland or Wellington on Thursday for just $NZD48 one way. BBC Radio 4 cut live to Radio New Zealand Morning Report as I was driving home tonight; world class public radio right there. The Christchurch Press was printed today. Incredible.
For more information Public Address have compiled this page of resources. If you are on twitter, search under #eqnz. There are many options to help or donate. Welly folk should check Wellingtonista.
12,000 miles away I am so grateful for the internet reassuring me that the people I love are ok. That their families are safe. Mostly there is relief and thankfulness.
Tonight I am also holding hope for an old school friend who has a loved one in the Pyne Gold Guinness building. We weren’t that close back at Girls High, but our lives have followed similar trajectories and she is only a few hundred miles from me now. It’s amazing to me how a few ‘likes’ on photos and the odd comment on a status update, can open the door for more meaningful messages and connection when the time calls.
Update from Facebook this morning: ‘I just wanted to let you know Sarah that they have called off the search at the PGG building and have not found my friend Estelle. They have sent in sniffer dogs, used heat/motion detectors but there is no sign of life. They think that it will be a long time before they can get in there and retrieve bodies. The area where they think she was, was badly affected so I guess we can only hope that it happened fast. Her family have been told that they should prepare for the worse and have gone home. Thanks for your kind words and support. Its just not fair. I am completely devastated.’
*Update on this story can be read here.
What a beautiful tribute. I am honored to have been able to read it. xo
I am a hormonal mess today, tweeting and facebooking and texting links to all sorts of things, through tears and overwhelm. #eqnz was the first thing that had me weeping today. I only know two Kiwis and I adore them both. Love and strength to all in Christchurch. x
i’m trying not to watch the news – was in helpless tears at my desk today. its just such a mess.
Thank you so very much for this list of resources. I grew up having to learn what to do in an earthquake too, ducking under desks in primary school, but I never witnessed anything of the magnitude of what struck New Zealand today. Joining you in hopes and good thoughts and grateful for your beautiful tribute.
Yes, living in Welly we really do become blase. My pod neighbour said ‘ooh was that an earthquake?’, we looked up, yes lights are swaying, ok, back to computer screen. Thought nothing of it until phones started going off around us. Well, I mean you don’t do you? Truthfully I’m somewhat horrified by how unprepared I am/we are for something of that magnitude – and Welly is still very overdue. But for now, family and friends are safe and we just watch and pray for the safety of those still missing. Kia Kaha.
TP – so pleased to know your fam are all safe. have you heard from colleagues in chch? our comms manager? feeling very far from home xxx
Hey Sas, yes Kathryn’s fine, took her a while to get home but work was v.good about letting us know as soon as all staff were accounted for and safe – big relief all round. Now though, we just wait and watch (and collect clothes and toiletries!). The aftershocks continue. And the stories of heroism and heartbreak. As you’ve already found, in such a small nation with only 2 degrees of separation, we’re all going to lose someone or know someone who does. My condolences to your friend and to all those who’ve lost loved ones.
I am so pleased kathryn’s ok! Thanks for letting me know love xxx
And yes 2 degrees of separation – it will be the thing that matters in the end.
I’ve sent money to the Red Cross and am currently bidding on a fantastic Trixie Delicious offering on Trade Me with profits to the relief fund. There is a kiwi owned restaurant just down the road who are donating profits from Sunday night so we’ll be going with friends.
Small gestures I know but something I hope.
I want to write a post, and eventually I will, but for now I don’t have the words. So much of my life, so many of my people, for better or worse, are in that city.
I am lucky enough that almost everyone I know is OK. But I can’t face the thought of what it is going to be like next time I go down there.
I thought of you straight away as I know you went home recently. And of course that you would be reporting events. I am grateful YOU are safe x
Horrific. I am heartbroken for my hometown.
amen sister.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/02/earthquake-in-new-zealand/100013/
i just looked at these images and the tears came, especially when i saw what the PGG building looks like now. it’s just not fair. i’m sending all my love to Christchurch today
I am sitting here with tears streaming after reading the post and the link to the photos. Makes me realise I need to treasure all that I have because so much can be taken away so quickly and without warning.
Sorry to hear about your friend and of course your hometown.
Amelia.x
It makes me want to hold my kids close. I don’t really have any other words Xxx
Oh Sas, I am just heartbroken for the people of Christchurch, it’s such a beautiful city filled with beautiful people. I can’t even imagine what they are going through…..there are no words. xxxx
utterly heartbreaking :( xxox
I was already so emotional from a trip to the hospital that day and stressed about other silly things that when the news of the earthquake started flooding into the office it was all I could do to hold all the emotions in and keep working. I’m surprised I managed it. That night it all came out though.
We have TV screens on around the office set to give us updates on the situation, we have customers calling in from Christchurch in hysterics… and yet we’re managing to carry on. I’m really proud of everyone in my office. We’re running on something incredible at the moment.
Kia Kaha… Keep Calm and Carry On… My friend in Chch is listening to the national anthem to repeatedly to keep her spirit up.
That was a beautiful tribute, Sas, and I’m so sorry to hear about Estelle. It’s awful, and it’s so easy to feel hopeless, but every time I watch the news I see amazing people down there who make me proud of my fellow countrymen.
i so proud of everyone in your office too! just got to keep going – i am tearing up just thinking of how amazing everyone is coping. its such a life affirming process to see how puny we all are in comparison to Big Mother Nature, and also that these things are utterly out of our control, we are forced to stop and concentrate on the only things that matter.
xxx