New Zealand Earthquake - Update 23-1-11

[Bonnie J.]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

We are a very small and very proud country (4 million people). We never ask for help, and are amongst the 1st in the world to give it. Today we have accepted, according to our Prime Minister "Every bit of help that was offered, that makes sense". The Aussies have been here since before dawn, the Japanese and Tawanise and the Americans are here or on their way. The Brits are coming from the other side of the world as quickly as they can, and will be here tomorrow.

I am typing this with tears running down my face. As one of our Cyclists said at a World Cup met on Sunday, when he came down and a British official asked him how he was, he said "I am a New Zealander", "I didn't ask you where you were from, I asked how you were", "I heard you, I am a New Zealander, we don't feel pain". - Well we do today!!

Someone asked about media overkill, I am going to point you if you are interested to NZ Websites, http://www.nzherald.co.nz; http://www.TVNZ.co.nz, and http://www.stuff.co.nz. The TVNZ website if you click on TVOne has live screening. The NZ Herald Website is the main Auckland newspaper. The Suff website is also good, and if you scroll acroos to their Blog link and scoll down to the second to last blog, which is a family blog, you will find an article from a young mother who is 37 wks pregnant and has a 15 month old toddler. This woman lives in Chch and gives an account of where she was when the earthquake hit. It is worth reading.

For those who asked, I am fine and so is my family, I am in Auckland and Auckland doesn't have earthquakes, it is just built on a ring of volcanoes!!!. I just feel useless. At this distance all I can do is donate, which I have done.

As I said at the start, Thank you, for your love, prayers and support.

Di

[Bonnie J.]

Thank you Diane, for allowing us to feel connected to you and your country. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Peggy

[E.M. T.]

DITTO !!

[E.M. T.]

Oh Di,

I so feel 'your' pain. Take care friend.

BarbCA

[E.M. T.]

Di,

Prayers for all that have been affected. Thanks for the update!

Margaret

[Teri L.]

prayers for each of the families.
Teri

[Paula D.]

I have been to Christchurch. It was a gorgeous town, very "British" in feel." I can't wrap my mind around what has happened. We emailed a colleague of my husband's who lives there, and he described the most awful conditions. The family is O.K., but their home is destroyed. Count your blessings, all.

[Paula D.]

Thanks Ladies

Friday 25 November - 7:00 a.m.
The death toll is rising, they are being very careful about releasing names. They have over 200 missing with 106 of those missing bodies recovered. They are asking for families of the missing to please tell them of any distinguising marks or jewellery that people may have on them to help with the identification.

There are still numerous after shocks (23 yesterday measuring over 4) which is not helping as the infrastructure in the city is badly damaged and they are worried that more buildings will collapse on the teams working to get people out. To also add to the problem, is the liquidefaction (didn't know about that word until Sept 4 10) which is happening throughout the city. Bridges have collapse and roads have buckled. Also there is a 26 storey hotel in the centre of the city which is dangerously close to collapse, and it is in the block next to the one where they are searching for bodies, they are worried about the impact on badly damaged buildings when/if that falls.

International teams are pouring into the city from around the world. The US team arrived this morning, with tonnes of equipment and have hit the ground running. Thank you. The Aussies, as always, are Tasman hopping to get more people to us quickly as possible. There are also teams from Japan, China, Taiwan, etc, and the British will be here later today.

On a ligher more human note, just Kiwis helping. Someone in Wellington has declared Sunday a "Bake-In Day" and is asking everyone to make home baking (that won't melt - no chocolate) and bring it to a designated place early Monday morning. They will then load a truck, take the Ferry across to Picton and drive down to Christchurch. The premise being that "home baking always makes people smile". Just a nice little "we care" touch. New Zealanders from around the country are opening up their homes to people from Christchurch who need a break. Also Air Zealand is offering compassionate flights to Welington and Auckland for $50.00, and the Air Force is also evacuating people to Wellington, more particularly international tourists, a lot of whom have lost everything, including passports, which are back in the hotels that are condemmed and they can not get back into.

This is the worst disaster New Zealand has experienced, and in the City no one expected it. The Big One was always meant to hit Wellington, Christchurch was right off the radar for this one.

I am getting ready to go to work. Keep safe and have a nice day.

Di

[Deborah W.]

I can't imagine the devastation and just pray for all who are affected by this earthquake. Love the idea of Bake-in Day. It is such a tangible express of love and is probably sorely needed with so much sadness around.

[Deborah W.]

Di,
Thanks again for the updates regarding the earthquake. We were in Anchorage Alaska during earthquake there 1964, the damage we've seen in Christchurch certainly reminds us of the damage we experienced and saw first hand in and around Anchorage. Our thoughts are certainly with you and all in Christchurch.
BarbCA

[Lynn K.]

Thanks for the updates and I'm sharing with non-TQS friends who care ever so much too!

God Bless and travel mercies as you work.
Lynn, TEXAS