One Week After

I slept through the 4.2 earthquake at 10pm last night and hardly noticed two of similar size this morning.  We find that if we’re moving at the time, the shake is often barely noticeable, but if we’re sitting still we notice it!  According to this morning’s “Press” we’ve had 388 seismic shocks over the past week.  There’s been a few more since, and by the time you read this the score will be over 400.  GNS Science, which has been keeping us informed about the size of our seismic shocks, has asked for volunteers who would put a sensor on their computer for the next month to help with gathering information.   I’ve sent a message saying we would be happy to help.

The inner city cordon has been relaxed overnight with just the intersection of Hereford and Madras Streets remaining closed because of the heritage building there.  The owner is keen to demolish (which would take six weeks) but others, including me, would like to see the building preserved if it’s at all practical.  There’s been a number of articles about how when buildings go memories can go with them.  I’m acutely aware that the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, which has major damage on the facade, is the only existing building that holds a memory of my father who died when I was five. 

The closed intersection is at the end of the block where Community House is located.  We have a green sticker, the building is now open, and computer network and internet have been restored.  I haven’t yet been in, but have scheduled a meeting of paid staff there for Monday morning, by which time I hope to have closed our emergency Earthquake Office in the Cottage.

A neighbour who’s currently in Qatar sent a message to say I could take the wheelbarrow and shovels from his shed if needed (thanks A!).  Wheelbarrows are much in demand for shifting silt.  Some sections are knee deep in it from the liquefaction, and there’s a danger it may be contaminated, so it must be removed.  While mechanical diggers are sometimes being used, often restricted access (or lack of a mechanical digger) means it has to be done manually.  The instruction is for silt to be moved on to the roadway, and the Council will then take it away.  There was a call this morning from someone who’s been shovelling all week and still has more to go.  I’ve been pleased to send him seven helpers.  (Just you try saying “shovelling silt” seven times quickly!  It’s even harder when the silt’s in Shirley.)

Some people in New Brighton still have no water or sewerage, and there’s a large number of families seeking rental accommodation.  It will take many months for houses to be replaced, and I wonder what the situation will be about accommodation for the Rugby World Cup.

I had a complaint from one resident that there four portaloos all together in one place in his street and some people have to walk a long way to get to them.  He seemed to think I could arrange to have them shifted to more convenient separate locations.   The City Council had been unable to help (they are coping with more urgent situations) and had referred him to me.   I suggested that he might contact the company who owned the portaloos, but am quite sure they will be extremely busy and want them all in one place  for ease of emptying.  When the alternative is a bucket and a hole in the garden, maybe a long walk to a portaloo isn’t too bad. 

Several people have told me I shouldn’t be arranging for volunteers to take bricks to the dump because the Council doesn’t want them there.  In fact what the Council doesn’t want is for people to put bricks in their red wheelie bins, the contents of which go to landfill.  If citizens take bricks to the dump they are kept separate as hardfill, and the costs are much lower than for landfill.  Plus all dumping charges are half price at present.  One man (also referred by CCC) spent time haranguing me saying there shouldn’t be any charge at all for people on limited incomes.  I told him I agreed, but wasn’t the right person to be talking to about it.  Eventually I had to politely tell him I needed to free my phone line for volunteering calls.

This afternoon I closed my Earthquake Office and went beachwalking with a friend and her dog.  The water problems in Brighton were obvious, with  the beach toilets barred and replaced by portaloos:

Waimairi Beach toilets

 

The shower and drinking fountains for humans and dogs had been taped off:

No showers or drinking here

I got home to find only five messages on the answerphone, none of which were requests for help, so my playing truant hadn’t inconvenienced anyone.  I’m hoping for a quiet unshaken evening with a ‘Midsomer Murder’.

“I left the phone and went awol
so I could have a beachside stroll.”