{"id":11872,"date":"2012-02-22T06:30:25","date_gmt":"2012-02-21T17:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/?p=11872"},"modified":"2012-02-22T07:57:43","modified_gmt":"2012-02-21T18:57:43","slug":"commemorating-february-22nd-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helenlowe.info\/blog\/2012\/02\/22\/commemorating-february-22nd-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Commemorating February 22nd 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is the first anniversary of the February 22nd earthquake that resulted in the deaths of 185 people here in Christchurch, as well as a great many physical injuries, a significant number of which were severe, and major infrastructure damage across the city.<\/p>\n

I know there is a huge amount about it in the media right now as well as official memorial services being held—and I also know that I am finding the intense focus on ‘reliving’ that time harrowing, a feeling of being retraumatised.\u00a0 Because of that, I didn’t think I would have anything much to say when I began drafting this post—but I find that I do.<\/p>\n

So here, for what is worth, are my personal thoughts on and response to today’s commemoration.<\/p>\n

Firstly, it isn’t over. Although the aftershocks following each major event appear to be decreasing in number and severity, there is still a very real possibility of another major quake.<\/p>\n

And in terms of the devastation caused by the February 22nd and June 13th earthquakes in particular, we are still living in a majorly damaged city. For many people, the day to day is still incredibly tough. So we are still very much “in it” and cannot say for sure whether the worst is behind us or not. And that knowledge is always there, in the back of all our minds.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, 185 people died a year ago today, many more were seriously injured, and a whole heap more than that lost homes, businesses and jobs. So not to commemorate today’s anniversary could be construed as saying all that doesn’t matter. When it does: a lot.<\/p>\n

Much of the rest of what I have to say is probably pretty obvious stuff. Like acknowledging the fact that it’s been an incredibly tough year and lots of people out there are still doing the hard yards. One thing about the intense media focus around this anniversary is that it does remind us of this.<\/p>\n

Here’s the thing, though. Yes things are still bad, very bad even for many people. And yes, EQC, CERA, the Council—they can all be frustrating to deal with over different things, very frustrating even, and I’m quite sure they’re making mistakes.<\/p>\n

But I think if we look at the big picture, if we really reflect on the tremendous, absolutely devastating\u00a0 level of damage that occurred last year, I think it’s not surprising that the authorities are struggling to cope and respond. In fact, overall I think they have done and are continuing to do amazingly well under the circumstances. And looking back to February 22nd last year, when pretty much half or more of the city was completely taken out,\u00a0what I remember in terms of my personal experience here in the Richmond area of the—yes—East Side, is this:<\/p>\n