The Polite Earthquake

Structural Engineer

  Here are some pictures of our "rubble tourism" one week after the quake.

standing in cracks near the epicenter

bracing a building's facade

how did the window remain intact?

the shifting river banks twisted this bridge

shop front collapse

twisted corner of house & broken stairs

playground separated from padding

We are all feeling incredibly lucky in Christchurch that the pudding like texture of the ground, time of day, and excellent structural planning & codes made this earthquake less devastating than ones of similar magnitudes in Haiti or Chile or California.  The neighborhoods built close to the rivers and ones built over unknown streams suffered the most.

Henri is having the opportunity of a life time.  He's been able to participate fully since the first day.  University engineering profs were put on building inspection teams & given nifty hard hats & vests.  People walked up to Henri wondering, "Pardon me, but are you a structural engineer?"  It was his moment of occupational celebrity.