Earthquake Report, 17 April: ‘Just When You Thought It Was Safe …’
To be honest, I didn’t think it was safe. I have read up a bit on what the earthquake pundits say and also listened to a few in-depth expert interviews on the radio—Radio New Zealand, of course, the only media outlet in this country where you consistently get real news and information—so know that we can expect a number of 5-point plus earthquakes for up to a year following the 6.3 earthquake of February 22nd.
Knowing, however, is one thing—having to go through last night’s 5.3 shake quite another. Yes, we emerged unscathed, although part of the city lost power, several water mains burst and already damaged roads were damaged further, but really, I think we’ve all had quite enough of the earth moving. The phrase “so over it already” definitely seems relevant. I also think that for every aftershock of this kind, more people will ask themselves: is this really where I want to be? And for those who have lost livelihood, home, or both, the anchors that tie people to place will be increasingly fraying loose.
Personally, I am still a long way from that point. To paraphrase the words of the Bruce Springsteen song (from the Album Born in the USA), “this is my hometown” by choice, and my partner’s in terms of both “born and raised.” We’re still feeling like we’re here for the long haul. But everyone has a tipping point, so I guess for many of us a lot will depend on how long this goes on and how bad the after effects are.
So far, I feel like Christchurch as a community and NZ as a country, supporting us, are doing incredibly well. Within seven weeks of what was a really major earthquake and probably NZ’s most significant disaster in terms of level of damage, we have potable water and power back on for the whole city. I have been amazed at the progress made on the roads and I know that the teams working on the sewage system are out there doing their durndest under incredibly difficult circumstances: I’m talking around 2/3rds of the city’s pumping stations taken out in the February 22nd ‘quake; significant numbers of mains blocked with silt and mud; and even when they’re cleared there’s still a very real risk of subsidence—especially in heavy rain like we’re experiencing right now. And in fact there was a major subsidence incident following the rain earlier in the week.
So everyone’s doing their best and I have absolutely no complaints about that, even though the day-to-day amenity east of the Hills-Fitzgerald line is still a very long way from ideal. For those who don’t know, Hills Road and Fitzgerald Avenue mark the rough boundary between those parts of the city (outside of the CBD) that are basically ok, i.e. west of the line, and then the city east of the line which is basically not ok. And of course with winter coming on, no one’s going to be ok if we don’t all continue to conserve power and water and not overload the sewage system.
So that’s us here in the shaky city: boxing on day-to-day, despite non-ideal circumstances, and as for a stop to the shaking—the day before yesterday, last month even, would be mighty fine.
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To read all the Earthquake Reports since February 22nd 2011, look under the Earthquake Reports category in the sidebar.
Glad to hear Christchurch is recovering fairly well despite some (major) setbacks. This is inconsequential in comparison to what you guys went through, but we had a quake yesterday afternoon (5.1) off the coast of Townsville in Queensland… I originally thought someone had been drink-driving and ran into our house because the area is not on any tectonic plates/known for its seismic activity. The fact that you had guys one too seems to be a strange coincidence.
5.1 is not inconsequential at all—but I suspect they are completely unrelated, other than the fact that their seems to be a lot of tectonic activity globally right now … Everything is realtive though isn’t it? It is no picnic here, but I feel that despite everything we are so much better off than the Japanese situation.
Every time I hear the news I think more supportive thoughts in your direction.
One thing I’ve taken from all of this mess is just how awesome the people in your region are.
Thank you, Gillian. I have to say, I really think they are—so many people doing their best every day to just get on with it. And the infrastructure workers really, I feel, working miracles of “making it happen.”
That was a heck of a shake last night, wasn’t it Helen? Freaked us out too. It’s weird because after the Darfield shake, you didn’t get many aftershocks that you felt here. But for the Lyttelton shake, we feel almost as many as you guys. Or at least, I do. Anything over around 3.5 we feel too.
I’m moving back into the city in a few weeks, assuming we can find somewhere to move to, so I guess I’ll be back in the thick of it again!
Did you get anymore liquefaction? I heard quite a few people did and I was thinking of you.
No liquefaction here, thank goodness, but I understand Bexley was hit hard again. And the Strategy Building on the cnr of Salisbury and Montreal Streets had to be demolished.
Moving to the “west side” seems to be the way to go.
That’s the plan, Jonny’s going to be working over that way. His work is relocating to Treffer’s Road, so we figure he should be over that way. It’ll actually be kinda nice to go back.
I was thinking about you yesterday when I heard about the shake. It must be so stressful!
Please let me know if there’s anything we can send down just for fun. I’ll take a picture of myself with my copy of Heir of Night and email it one of these days – if you enjoy that kind of thing?
God bless
Aimee, I would love the photo–with your permission I would even reproduce it here on the blog.
And thank you for your kindness & thoughts.
You’re so much in our thoughts, as always… And kudos for taking it on the chin once more, and not losing the plot. Hopefully there will now be some respite.
Thank you, Mary. And sadly, the prognosis for more of the same, at intermittent intervals for up to a year, was reconfirmed on Morning Report (RNZ) this morning. Bah, I say, bah! 🙁
I can’t hear the news without wondering how you are, Helen. Really sorry you’re having to deal with such extended stress. . . L, C
Thanks, Claire—I think we are all starting to feel quite ground down by it all, with no immediate respite in place. But thank you for your onging thoughts and support.