Quake 2010

ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, September 11, 2010

the the the the the

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Canterbury clean-up kindness stories people photos

Kaiapoi PHOTOS CARMEN ROONEY

ABOVE and BELOW: Kaiapoi

ABOVE: Avonside

RIGHT: Christchurch city

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ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, September 11, 2010

the Canterbury clean-up l the kindness the stories l the people l the photos

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ABOVE: Anthea Terris lifts her carpet to reveal cracked foundations in her Kaiapoi home.

RIGHT: A family from Amberley works to clear the silt from the front yard of a Kaiapoi family whom they’d never met before turning up on their doorstep with shovels and wheelbarrows.

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Anthea Terris’ hands still shake and tears come to her eyes as she recalls the moment her family’s life changed a week ago today. Their Kaiapoi home is unliveable after Saturday’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake which rocked much of Canterbury. But when Guardian reporter Erin Bishop and photographer Carmen Rooney arrive on her street on Thursday, she’s happy to show them around and tell her family’s story.

My House, My Castle ... gone A

nthea Terris and her family have lost their castle.

The Kaiapoi family’s Cass Street home now has cracked walls, cracked foundations and their property is covered in silt.

It’s been a bad year for the family. Mrs Terris’ mother died earlier this year from breast cancer, this week they’ve been faced with losing their home in a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which rocked Canterbury, and as they look to start rebuilding their lives they’re having to face losing another cherished member of their family.

The family had two dogs and one of them, the one which has been their pet for 11 years, was buried alive in the silt which came up from the ground in the liquefaction which occurred as a result of the earthquake.

They managed to dig the dog out but he’s in a bad way and it’s likely he’ll have to be euthanised.

When the Guardian meets Mrs Terris on Thursday, five days after the devastating earthquake, she doesn’t know if she’s slept since Saturday and her hands are still shaking. Everything seems to be a blur.

Most of their belongings have been

removed from their home and Mrs Terris, her husband and their 13-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son had been staying with family in Christchurch. But they still don’t feel safe and the kids won’t sleep alone. The family has been staying near Christchurch’s airport and every time they hear a plane go overhead they think it’s another earthquake.

They’ve found a rental property to move into but they’re not sure what their future holds. Mrs Terris’ phone rings while we’re talking to her and it’s her husband. She tells him she’s talking to the Ashburton Guardian and he says to tell us to get the second phase of Lake Hood moving along – that could be a good place to live.

Their home might look normal at first glance apart from the silt covering the garden, including the back yard which they’d just spent $8000 doing up, but a closer look reveals just how bad it is.

Lift up the carpet and you’ll see cracked foundations. Look in the kitchen and you’ll see the bench and cupboards are no longer attached to the walls. Look at almost every corner of every room and you’ll find it cracked.

Their street was one of the hardest hit in Kaiapoi and people, many of them volunteers, have been working around the clock to clean up both the street and the homes on it.

There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to where the earthquake hit hardest. Mrs Terris said a lady only a handful of houses away from hers was out mowing her lawn and pruning her roses on Monday. There was little damage there despite it only being a couple hundred metres away from the Terris family home.

Mrs Terris was awake when the quake hit.

She was walking through the lounge towards the kitchen to get a glass of water when the house started shaking. She could barely stand up.

“It’s just hard to describe,” she said.

Incredibly though, given the structural damage to the house, nothing broke. Not even one glass was broken.

The family is now waiting on a structural engineer to come and report on their home.

They don’t know what the outcome will be.

Kaiapoi is like a ghost town at the moment, Mrs Terris said. It’s scary seeing a convoy of army vehicles rolling in every night as the

7pm curfew comes into effect.

She said Cass Street was like Christchurch’s Colombo Street on a busy Saturday night for the first couple of days.

Despite being told to stay away, rubberneckers were out in force with their cameras and Mrs Terris did not hesitate to tell them what she thought of them.

The area has also been hit by other unwanted visitors in the form of burglars.

Mrs Terris’ friends’ earthquake-hit home was burgled early in the week.

Since then though, most of the motorists who pull up have good intentions, and even a person who they’d sold something to on Trade Me had emailed to say he’d put another $100 in their bank account.

On Thursday a family she’d never met before from Amberley turned up with shovels and wheelbarrows and started cleaning the silt from her property.

As they dig away they come across rose bushes and ask Mrs Terris what they should do with them. She says to keep them, they have taken on an even more special meaning now and hopefully one day soon she’ll have somewhere to replant them.

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ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, September 11, 2010

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the Canterbury clean-up l the kindness the stories l the people l the photos

T

When all hell broke loose

hings were so quiet at the Christchurch Central Police Station early last Saturday morning that they were considering sending officers home.

But in a matter of seconds, that all changed as a 7.1 magnitude earthquake sent much of Canterbury diving for cover.

Since then, it has been all hands on deck with many police officers working 12 hour shifts manning cordons sealing the inner city off from the rest of the world. They were joined by army personnel as they worked to keep people out of the danger zone, where many buildings had lost walls and were facing demolition.

Christchurch will never be the same. Some of its oldest and most established buildings and businesses have been reduced to rubble, but the city is fighting back and walking down Colombo Street on Thursday afternoon only the police officers and army officers on the street corners, along with the odd shut sign gave an indication something’s not right.

Shops were open, people were waiting at bus stops and shoppers were wandering the streets.

It’s not a case of whole streets having been destroyed in the city. It’s the odd building. Some buildings appear to have escaped relatively unscathed.

Everywhere you look doors have council signs on them.

The green ones are good and mean there’s no restriction on people entering and working, but the red ones aren’t so good.

We come across one business on Colombo Street where

Their whole world has literally crumbled around them but you wouldn’t know it. Residents in some of the hardest hit areas from Saturday’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake which rocked Canterbury know that they’ve just got to pick up the pieces and move on, although they still can’t believe it has happened to them. Erin Bishop reports.

a red sign is on the door, but it’s being ignored for the moment. They’re not supposed to go inside, but the building’s owner and some helpers are quickly salvaging what they can from the shop.

Some warnings are being ignored in suburban areas too. We visit Avonside where St Paul’s Primary School has been hit hard and is cordoned off by police tape. But members of the community are still crossing the tape and taking a closer look at the extensive damage to the school.

Its buildings are cracked with its church virtually in half, and the concrete in the playground has been left resembling a mini-Grand Canyon.

It’s not known when that school might reopen, like some have already done, but looking at the buildings it’s likely to take some time.

Just across the road, in a quiet cul-de-sac, we came across an incredible scene. It’s a sea of people with shovels, spades, wheelbarrows and hoses. And none of the people in their gumboots on the end of the tools spoken to

by the Guardian lived in the area.

In hard hit suburban areas of Christchurch, volunteers are everywhere. There’s a group of St Bede’s College students – one with a broken hand but still shovelling. They saw a Facebook page which had been set up to find volunteers to help with the clean up, so came along.

Then there’s Rebecca Blankenbyl and Sophie Dahl, two flatmates who live in Riccarton. They’re university students but due to damage at Canterbury University, there have been no classes this week.

“So we thought we might as well go out and help people,” Miss Dahl said.

She said it felt surreal, especially seeing old student flats still standing and brand new houses condemned after the earthquake.

Driving around Christchurch there’s no real pattern to the damage. Half of a street might be fine, but the other end is in turmoil, leaving some people wondering what they’ve done to deserve this.

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Photos Carmen Rooney 090910-CR-005

ABOVE: The wall of Longhorn Leather Shop on Colombo Street, which crumbled in Saturday’s earthquake and rendered the building unworkable.

ABOVE: Army personnel point a woman in the right direction at one of the inner city cordons.

RIGHT: Volunteers, including three from St Bede’s College, help clean up an Avonside street this week.

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ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, September 11, 2010

the Canterbury clean-up l the kindness the stories l the people l the photos

The facts

photo jane logie

photo jane logie

• It was the most damaging earthquake in New Zealand since 1931 and is expected to cost billions.

• The Canterbury Earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and struck at 4:36am on September 4, when most were in bed.

It was initially measured at 7.4 magnitude but was later downgraded.

• The epicentre was 40km west of Christchurch city, close to Darfield.

• It was at a depth of 10km.

• While structural damage was severe in the Christchurch CBD and to the north of the city, only two people were seriously injured.

• When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in January, around 230,000 people were killed.

• Many areas were left without utilities like power, water, sewerage services and gas in the aftermath of the quake.

• Hundreds of aftershocks have continued to hit the area, ranging from 2.6 magnitude to 5.4.

• Many homes, businesses and historic buildings have been destroyed – others have been badly damaged, with little hope of salvage.

• Many schools in Canterbury closed for the week, with only a handful reopening before the weekend.

• Much of the CBD has been cordoned off for the week, with fears for public safety.

• Earthquake Commission claims have come in at a rate of 268 every hour since Saturday.

• The earthquake has also caused a surge in heart attacks, with Christchurch Hospital dealing with around eight to 10 heart attacks a day since Saturday.

• The earthquake also caused a surge in babies born, with a record of 21 born at Christchurch Women’s Hospital in the 24 hours following the earthquake.

Quake safe your home

photo mark slaven

photo jane logie

photo jane logie

From Earthquake Commission website – Quake Safe your Home: • Secure hot water cylinders and header tanks.

• Check that your house is secured to its foundations.

• Secure your chimney with galvanised metal bands.

• Secure tall furniture to the wall studs.

• Secure woodburners to the floor.

• Store heavy objects low down • Use non-slip mats under smaller appliances and objects.

• Use plastic putty (Blu Tack) to secure ornaments.

• Push picture and mirror hooks closed.

• Have flexible gas and plumbing fittings installed.

• Check your household insurance for cover and amount.

photo jane logie

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ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, September 11, 2010

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the Canterbury clean-up l the kindness the stories l the people l the photos

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Photos Susan Sandys 090910-SS-08

Steel-Worx is closed for the season and will lose its origi- Songsri Gorman is heartbroken at not being able to operate her restaurant and internet cafe. nal facade.

Methven businesses close down

By Susan Sandys

S

tructural engineers checking quake damage in Methven this week had both good and bad news for business people hoping to return to their premises.

The building housing Icehouse Gallery and Skin Therapy is structurally sound, but PC House, Thai Chilli and Steel-Worx Bar and Restaurant are no-go zones.

Songsri (Lam) Gorman at the adjoining PC House and Thai Chilli said she met the engineers on-site Thursday afternoon, hoping she could return.

She had operated her Thai restaurant on Saturday and Sunday, just for takeaways, as the building had not appeared too damaged. However, further aftershocks had made it even more unstable.

The engineers told her she could not return to the building, which she rents, and now she does not know if it can be repaired.

She said she had noticed more cracks appearing in windows and walls over the past few days. Mrs Gorman operates the internet cafe and restaurant with husband Eddie, and often brings her daughter to work.

“I don’t feel safe there, and I don’t want to bring my baby close to the building,” Mrs Gorman said.

She was heartbroken at seeing the restaurant, which she had built into a thriving business throughout this ski season, having to shut down during a busy period.

She was not insured for lost turnover.

“I really want back to my business, all my money I put in here.”

Franz Furndorfler at Steel-Worx said this ski season had been one of the better ones, and then “bang, shut down by an earthquake”.

The red sticker remained in place after the engineers’ visit, and the whole front of the building had to be demolished. It was listed as a historic building so may have to have a similar facade installed. He and fellow owner Casey Crawford would not re-open this winter.

Skin Therapy beautician Vanessa Kelk, who operates from the former Icehouse Gallery building across the road, said she was relieved to hear from engineers the building was sound, it just required repairs to facades.

She had been evacuated to Skibo House “half way through a treatment” on Monday, and would be operating there until she moved to a different area of the building following Icehouse Gallery shutting down on Friday.

Icehouse Gallery owner Debbie Smith said Saturday’s earthquake made clearing out items difficult this week. She had been in the building all weekend packing things up, and was not told until Monday, by a neighbouring tenant, that she was not allowed in there.

Ashburton District Council building services manager Mark Fields said whether the more severely damaged buildings were repaired or demolished would be a cost-benefit decision for the landlord.

“Sometimes restoration work is incredibly expensive,” he said.

LEFT: Methven Volunteer Fire Brigade members take a chimney down on Saturday morning, following the earthquake. The brigade had several call-outs throughout the day, mainly to teetering chimneys.

BELOW: Some Mid Canterbur y residents lost crockery and glasses in the earthquake. A china cabinet in this Methven home fell over, smashing fourth generation china with plenty of sentimental value for its elderly owner.

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ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, September 11, 2010

the Canterbury clean-up l the kindness the stories l the people l the photos

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Army packs line the walls of the Pegasus naval base.

The quake has left many people feeling lost, with this older gentleman pausing on one of the deserted inner city streets.

Behind the scenes with Civil Defence

By Amanda Durry For five days, I’d been wondering what the devastation in Christchurch really looked like.

On Wednesday, I was given my lifeline to find out.

Not just from the street or from what media was told, but a behind-the-scenes look with Ashburton College principal Grant McMillan, who has been leading a double life as the Commanding Officer for our local reserve battalion of the New Zealand Army, the 2nd Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Battalion Group.

I was warned early, we were not doing military tourism. I would not be getting up close and personal with collapsed buildings but instead, would see what some of the people were doing behind the scenes.

What I saw was strength in people. Without sounding too corny, it was actually inspiring.

Saturday’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake has caused so much devastation, not just to buildings but to people’s lives.

The quake however, did not damage the resilience of community spirit. First stop was city council headquarters at the Christchurch Art Gallery. Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker sat at a desk just inside the door, surrounded by logistics personal, making call after call. The stress was evident on his face and he admits to us, he can now tell when each aftershock is coming. He cannot get the rumbles out of his head.

After touching base with one of the army liaisons, we move on to Civil Defence headquarters.

Here, people are also looking stressed but like others, they’re

Photos Amanda Durry 090910-AD-004

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, leading from a temporary desk at the Christchurch Art Gallery.

boxing on despite having been awake for hours. They’ve been trained for situations like this and must put personal feelings aside to help others.

From there, we head to the Pegasus naval base on Montreal Street.

We paused on the way. A crane removing a building on Victoria Street is quite a sight. I, like many others, pause to capture the moment.

It wasn’t military tourism, but it was an eye opener.

What came next was some great yarns from soldiers just helping out doing their part.

The naval base is where the regular and reserve soldiers are based, coming and going from 12 hour shifts.

I’m told they’ve been needed throughout Christchurch and neighbouring communities.

Tasks have included helping on cordons, ferrying people to welfare centres if they could not get there themselves, plenty of spade work and generally helping out where they can.

They also tell of sad stories, like being invited into a home belonging to a couple in their 90s. Their wedding china had been destroyed in the quake, but they, like others were not dwelling on their hardship.

I’m told neighbours have become friends, keeping an eye out for each other, cooking meals on the front lawn and taking each other into their homes.

Even the soldiers are surprised at the ability of residents to pick themselves up and carry on.

“They’ve accepted what’s happened and have picked themselves up and carried on,” one soldier said.

They were also helping others as much as possible and it

was those volunteers that also received praise.

“It’s not easy to do, especially if their house is in a similar condition.”

They’re there though, hour after hour, day after day, just trying to make a difference.

We move on to the Waimakariri civil defence base, where we meet another mayor.

Ron Keating is equally as stressed, and shows it on his face as well.

He sums up the whole thing well.

“It’s just going to be a matter of building from the ground up again,” he said.

He also admits, it’s been a hell of a learning curve with many people learning as they go.

He cannot fault those people though, saying they’ve done a brilliant job.

The final stops for the evening are to a few soldiers stationed at cordons in town.

In the twilight hour, the streets are dark, eerie and deserted.

The occasional tourist takes a photo. An old man stars blankly into the night.

And yet, that community spirit is not far away.

One police officer and a soldier munch away on some naan bread, kindly donated by a nearby Indian restaurant as a thank you.

Heading out of Christchurch, it’s almost like it never happened. But it did.

No lives were lost and one thing is certain. The people of Christchurch and surrounding areas will band together. They will cope. And they will rebuild. From the ground up.

Angus McKay for Mayor My vision is to have decision making that involves the Community through more and earlier communication with relevant affected parties.

Angus McKay and Mary McKay

Authorised by Angus McKay, 6RD, Ashburton

ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, September 11, 2010

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the Canterbury clean-up l the kindness the stories l the people l the photos

Get through Earthquake commission website:

Survival pack:

Strong shoes for outdoors

Supplies for children:

Food and Water – Enough for 3 days Canned or dried food A can opener A primus or BBQ to cook on Bottled water (3 litres per person per day) Check and renew the food and water every 12 months

Food and drink Change of clothing Favourite toy or activity

Your first aid kit

First aid kit and essential medicines Spare toilet paper and plastic rubbish bags for your emergency toilet Pet supplies Waterproof torches and spare batteries Radio and spare batteries Check the batteries every three months

Windproof and rainproof Sun hats Blankets or sleeping bags

Emergency items:

Emergency clothing:

Supplies for those with disabilities:

Hearing aids Mobility aids Glasses

You should have a complete first aid kit available in your home. If you can’t get a complete one or would prefer to make one up yourself, the following list is recommended by The Order of St John as a minimum guide suitable for families: Triangular bandages (2) Roller bandages - 50 mm (1 roll) and 75mm (2 rolls) Sterile gauze - 7.5cm x 7.5 cm (2) Adhesive wound dressing - 6cm wide x 1 metre long (1 strip) Plaster strip dressings (1 packet)

Adhesive tape - 25 mm hypoallergenic (1 roll) Sterile non-adhesive pads - small (2) and large (3) Sterile eye pad (1) Eye wash container (1) Eye wash solution - saline steritube 30 ml (1) Antiseptic solution - chlorhexidine steritube 30 ml (4) Safety pins (1 card) Scissors (1 pair) Splinter forceps (1 pair) Disposable gloves (2 pair) Accident register and pencil First Aid manual Card listing local emergency numbers

If you’re going to leave your home, it’s recommended you also have a getaway kit. Everyone in your house should have a small bag for a getaway kit, ready for evacuation. In addition to essential emergency items, this kit should include: FAMILY DOCUMENTS Birth and marriage certificates Driver’s licences and passports Insurance policies Family photos PERSONAL ITEMS Towels, soap, toothbrush and sanitary items A change of clothes FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.getthru.govt.nz 090910-cr-305

photos carmen rooney and amanda durry

ABOVE and LEFT: Christchurch city BELOW: Kaiapoi RIGHT: Avonside

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ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, September 11, 2010

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What the Guardian team saw

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1, 2, 3 – Christchurch city 4, 5, 6, 7 – Avonside photo carmen rooney 090910-cr-321

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