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Christchurch - the New Normal

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No, we're never going to be back to normal. There's a new normality here

The earthquake on September 4th, 2010 was the start of something that was to obliterate our normal lives, and send us spinning into a vortex of upheaveal that will continue, for decades to come. With 9632 aftershocks since that event, we are a community struggling to get to our feet and discover what sort of daily life now defines us as a people, as a city. The magnitude of it all is still just hitting us. We are the lucky ones of the city - after all we are alive, can operate a sort of business, and our house is standing, and we have a flush toilet. I grieve and am still fighting to rid myself of earthquake-brain and a compulsive grief reaction that makes me try to digest every snippet of information about the land, the wobbles, the demolished homes and heart of the city that was once just like any other. I still can't find key businesses and professional people who were once such a normal part of my life. I can't drive around the city any more without a map because the landmarks of buildings have all gone. But that's nothing.

I just have to think of the thousands of the once 300,000 population have twisted, dangerous houses sitting on wobbly, unpredictable land; they don't know their future and their business lies somewhere in the cordoned-off zone, without access. They don't know what tomorrow will bring and they play a daily waiting game with insurance companies, inspectors, councils, politicians, and official bodies of all kinds.
I consider myself so lucky, so blessed and fortunate that I have little of this to cope with.

So why does it still hurt?
Fellow rubble-dwellers of Christchurch, this lens is for you, especially. Kia Kaha Christchurch

Table of Contents

Earthquakes - home and abroad

A deep fascination from experience!

Living in New Zealand means living with earthquakes. But despite having grown up with them I wasn't prepared for the real biggy that arrived on September 4th, 2010, at Darfield, close to Christchurch. Nor was I prepared for the intensity and number of the aftershocks that came in their droves. The deaths of 181 people in one of those aftershocks was also another devastating surprise... and we are still getting them Both surprises, and aftershocks. Last time I checked, there had been 7,646. That's a lot of wobbles. Our lives are upside down and chaotic and all who live in Christchurch now talk of the New Normal.
So you can understand why earthquakes fascinate me. Enjoy the links as I add to them
Christchurch Quake: Mass Trauma & PTSD
Christchurch Quake was a Mass Trauma event. How can you tell if you or your loved ones have Post Trauma Stress Disorder from this event?
Deb Donnell's Canterbury Quake Café Reflections.
Canterbury Earthquake Live
This lens covers the two Canterbury earthquakes. Take a look at the first earthquake now and the second earthquake later.On Saturday 4th September at 4.35 a 7.1 magnitude...
Drive through the Red Zone
The Press reported that a contractor had tied a video camera to a ladder on his truck and filmed the drive through the Red Zone as he went to work. These videos were shown on The Press online site - and make remarkable and depressing viewing. That's the reality...
Christchurch Earthquake 22/02/11
photos on Flikr from geotheref's photostream
Ross Becker's Gallery of Christchurch rebuild photos
Ross Becker was commissioned to photograph the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes and had for the most part, exclusive access to the Red Zone during demolition and repair. This is a work in progress! Hiis excellent photos trace the progress of a city dying and being reborn.
quake stories
A new online archive based at the University of Canterbury, and developed by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, a founding consortium member of the Canterbury, Earthquake Images, Stories and Media Integrated Collection (CEISMIC). Cantabrians are urged to tell their stories online. It makes riveting and moving reading
Stronger Christchurch - infrastructure rebuild
On this website you will find information about repair work to our city's services (roads, water supply, storm water and wastewater systems and parks) that were damaged by the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes and aftershocks.
On the ground in Christchurch
15 months after the first major earthquake, Christchurch residents in the hardest hit areas talk about how life is for them around Christmas.
Seismic activity in New Zealand
From the dictionary of New Zealand, read a clear and concise description of why we are known as the shaky isles!

Latest video update from the red zone

Inside the red zonePress video reporter Daniel Tobin has just updated the view inside the cordoned-off Red Zone in Christchurch. The desolate barren plots where once proud buildings stood makes it heartbreaking viewing.

YouTube videos of the Christchurch quakes

A combination of CCTV footage, news reels and personal clips will be shown here. I have tried to get a variety showing the reactions and experiences of ordinary people like us! Some show the demolition and rebuilding efforts many months later. What a changed city.
Christchruch earthquake Feb 22 2011 12:51 pm Magnitude: 6.3
by adxnz | video info

61 ratings | 49,299 views
curated content from YouTube

Virtual 360 degree tour of Christchurch Central Business District

cbd in 360 virtual tourFlat, 2-D photos rarely give a good idea of what the centre of Christchurch is looking like at the moment. It's so hard to visualise the changes, to even find where you are standing. But these series of panoramic virtual tours of the CBD give a terrific overview of the state o the city moreorless at the present. Demolitions everywhere, clearing of rubble... it goes on and on.
The Focus 360 website also has a gallery showing the earthquake aftermath closer to the events. Just use the menu.

Canterbury Earthquake website links

If you have other good ones, please add!

From news reports to rebuilding and official information sites, hopefully this will be useful to anyone needing a quick link to earthquake resources

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https://www.facebook.com/riseupchristchurch

The Facebook page of Rise Up Christchurch. Rebuild more...0 points

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Get Ready, Get through. Civil Defence help to prepare for disaster

Due to its location and environment, New Zealand f more...0 points

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http://www.recovercanterbury.co.nz/

It's all about our recovery in Canterbury0 points

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CanCERN: Canterbury Communities Earthquake Recovery Network

Canterbury Communities' Earthquake Recovery Networ more...0 points

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http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/content/christchurch-building-demolition-map

The demolition map of Christchurch, and what has c more...0 points

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Christchurch Earthquake Feb 2011 - Photos - NZ Herald

Photo galleries from the Feb 2011 earthquake in Ch more...0 points

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This weeks red zone footage | Stuff.co.nz

The Press was allowed into the central Christchurc more...0 points

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Picasa Web Albums - Ross Becker - Oct 15 - CBD ...

Photos by Ross Becker, Oct 14, 2011 of the demolit more...0 points

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Infrastructure Rebuild: Repairing our city's services | strongerchristchurch.govt.nz

This website is dedicated to the infrastructure re more...0 points

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ShowUsYourLongDrop.co.nz

Disasters are so stressful that even a little bit more...0 points

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Inside the red zone 15 February | Stuff.co.nz

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera more...0 points

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Comments welcome

(and suggestions for links too!)

  • greatwriters Apr 8, 2012 @ 3:29 am | delete
    I am saddened to hear that Christchurch has been so badly damaged and not just by the first earthquake of 4 September 2010 but also by the following quake of 22 February 2011 which was much closer to the city centre, resulting in higher casualties and the loss of many irreplaceable heritage buildings. I visited Christchurch back in 1970s and am sad to hear of so much beauty lost.
  • Churchmouse Apr 8, 2012 @ 3:53 pm | delete
    Thank you - it is such an on-going state of decay that the city has not yet fallen in to complete ruin! There are many signs of rebuild and reconstruction and in a few decades the city will have resurrected - but until then we we living in a construction/demolition zone. Come back and see us in 2042!
  • Gloriousconfusion Apr 4, 2012 @ 7:00 pm | delete
    I was glued to the BBC News watching developments right after the earthquake and for days after, but memory fades when you are not actually there on the spot, experiencing it every day - your description made me very aware of the small (and not-so-small) things like losing all the landmarks and not being able to find businesses because they had disappeared.

    Here are some Angel Blessings
  • Churchmouse Apr 4, 2012 @ 11:25 pm | delete
    Thanks so much for the angel blessings! We still need plenty of them.
  • Pukeko Mar 9, 2012 @ 7:01 am | delete
    It's been such a tough year for Chch. Glad you are ok. Blessed.
  • Churchmouse Apr 4, 2012 @ 11:25 pm | delete
    Thanks for the blessing - they all help!
  • cffutah Nov 25, 2011 @ 8:25 pm | delete
    enjoyed my reading here tonight, thank you indeed.
  • happynutritionist Nov 3, 2011 @ 9:07 am | delete
    I am sorry to hear that you have gone through all this. This has been a year of many natural disasters...here in the US so many tornadoes, the hurricane in the northeast, and so very much flooding. It is easy to feel sorry for myself about the flooding issue we have to deal with and we are able to divert the water from our home...when so many others who were flooded were not able to do that, but watched the water rise and take over. These are life changing things, and I am still learning the lesson of how to make the right choices as to where to let my mind go with my thoughts...still learning what it means to trust in the Lord and lean on him for strength. In fact, from something as pretty as snow that was too early and too heavy, many around here are still waiting for their power to come back. Always something. God give you comfort. Thank you for visiting my Natural Disaster page.
  • jwncoexists Oct 30, 2011 @ 6:28 pm | delete
    Thank you for this informative lens. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you define your new future.
  • CatJB Oct 24, 2011 @ 7:58 pm | delete
    Wow, thanks for giving me the link to your lens. As a former Wellingtonian, I too have a fascination with earthquakes, and we were always warned about the 'big one'. Sends shivers down my spine watching the footage. Glad you and yours are safe.
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Churchmouse

Churchmouse was born in a small country town in the North Island of New Zealand. Although she has played organs in churches of various denominations f... more »

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