Kiwi Gavins: Earthquake

change in the road pavement

an unreinforced Garden Wall on Hanrahan Street

top of roof line at Church Corner

September 4.
At 4:35 am the big earthquake shook Christchurch. Henri was awake as he'd just submitted a paper. We all hustled outside. The aftershocks hit just after we'd settled back inside. Back out again. We are all just fine. The house is terrific. The chickens & cat are fine. Jin Jin the cat snuggled under the covers with us after the second aftershock.

I remember thinking, "What a clear morning I can really see the stars." It was because the power was out everywhere. I was also incredibly freaked out & panicked momentarily because I couldn't find the handles to the boys' bedroom doors. It was very hard to stay on my feet & the quake felt like it went on forever (it was about sixty some seconds). By the second & third mighty aftershocks we were very quick with our get-out-of-the-house-response.

Eric's first thought was that Ben was shaking his bed but then he looked around the room & noticed the desk & bookshelf were shaking.

Ben, "I was really scared. I heard my mom screaming 'Earthquake!' and then we all ran outside."

Henri thought it was scary. Worst quake he's ever experienced. Also says it gave him a new understanding of ground motion.

The electricity just came on (noon). WOW! We are feeling lucky! We are also lucky that the first days after the quake were warm & sunny.

Some glasses broke, some books fell off shelves. We are fine. The houses in our neighborhood are fine. It is a nice sunny day. The damage only seems to be on historic downtown buildings.
The grocery stores are low on bottled water & cabbage. Plenty of other stuff.

We are boiling water before we drink it or use it for toothbrushing...just as a precaution.

We had some friends over for a play date & showers (they live out in the country & their electricity wasn't back on yet). Reminds me of ice-storm & hurricane community building.

downtown damage (Henri investigates)

neighborhood near downtown

Henri is out investigating the damage (he's an earthquake engineer). Here are some photos. Henri has been out with a response team helping inspect businesses on Riccarton Street (tagging the damage of to the structures), working with the "nerve center" of the operation downtown & today another adventure. Henri is really impressed with the skills of the first responders, civil defense team & the way they are all mapping out the information. He feels very lucky to have his colleagues fold him in to the ongoing response.