I know and know it has been ages since I've written. It is all because of the earthquake I assure you. You probably think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I have a growing realisation that the earthquake is still affecting us in rahter big ways. One way is in great disappointments. I don't write much when I'm living in disappointment zones.
Our house deal fell through. Negotiations with the insurance over the house we were attempting to purchase broke down after 2 months of work. I don't think the word disappointment can convey the depth of emotions this produced in me for the last couple of days.
I wasn't the only one disappointed, the man trying to sell us his house also faced the disappointment and he in turn must have passed that on to people in the North Island who were to sell their house to him. Earthquakes bring a few bad days, even after they have passed by.
On a happier note, we are seeing an awful lot of demolishing of buildings going on. For the most part, we feel that this is a good thing, for clearing the rubble means we can get on with building the new. And getting on with the new beginning is what we all want to happen.
I just wish my insurance provider would let me have my new beginning.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
5.5 Why?
So people outside Christchurch often question why we continue to have these earthquakes. Friends and family wonder how we endure. They also question why we remain in Christchurch.
We get alot of information about earthquakes, here in Christchurch. We are regular told that we will have aftershocks, they will decline in size and frequency, but it will be 2-10 years time frame. And yes, the thought of that kind of time-scale is discouraging. But we are also used to discouraging time-scales. Our city will be 10-15 years, or longer, in rebuilding. My church has been given a 3-5 year projection date before it's building will be restored or rebuilt. But hey, I've been out of my house for 14 months and still have no idea when the insurance will be settled. We know and must accept this long-term plan of recovery, including aftershocks.
Each time we get a swarm of aftershocks,like we had this week which included the 5.5 yesterday, we feel it. Our children wake up, we once again here every sound that might be the rumble of an earthquake, and we know our city will be set back alittle. Insurance companies point to these events as the reason they will not re-insure in the city. We can't move forward again.
A 5.5 is a respectable earthquake in its own right, it wobbles, and shakes a few things down, but it shouldn't brigh us to our knees. It doesn't have that kind power...unless we let it.
We get alot of information about earthquakes, here in Christchurch. We are regular told that we will have aftershocks, they will decline in size and frequency, but it will be 2-10 years time frame. And yes, the thought of that kind of time-scale is discouraging. But we are also used to discouraging time-scales. Our city will be 10-15 years, or longer, in rebuilding. My church has been given a 3-5 year projection date before it's building will be restored or rebuilt. But hey, I've been out of my house for 14 months and still have no idea when the insurance will be settled. We know and must accept this long-term plan of recovery, including aftershocks.
Each time we get a swarm of aftershocks,like we had this week which included the 5.5 yesterday, we feel it. Our children wake up, we once again here every sound that might be the rumble of an earthquake, and we know our city will be set back alittle. Insurance companies point to these events as the reason they will not re-insure in the city. We can't move forward again.
A 5.5 is a respectable earthquake in its own right, it wobbles, and shakes a few things down, but it shouldn't brigh us to our knees. It doesn't have that kind power...unless we let it.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sixth Month Anniversary
Today is the six month aniversary of our deadly earthquake and Christchurch knows how to remember an earthquake date. We had a morning shake, only a 4.2 but now that we don't get them as often...we feel these quakes more.
The news is full of 'how are we doing' sorts of articles. Nobody asked me the question, but of course I do have an opinion.
I think we are doing okay...considering what we have been through and some the issues (like insurance companies being slow to pay-out or refusing to re-insure)we have to face.
We have visitors from the UK. Seeing their reaction to our devasation (and alot has been cleaned up already!) and their nervousness for the little shakes we've experienced, reminds me that this was a big event and a difficult one.
To all of us who have been in Christchurch through all the events,I think we can pat ourselves on the back and say... 'Well done.'
The news is full of 'how are we doing' sorts of articles. Nobody asked me the question, but of course I do have an opinion.
I think we are doing okay...considering what we have been through and some the issues (like insurance companies being slow to pay-out or refusing to re-insure)we have to face.
We have visitors from the UK. Seeing their reaction to our devasation (and alot has been cleaned up already!) and their nervousness for the little shakes we've experienced, reminds me that this was a big event and a difficult one.
To all of us who have been in Christchurch through all the events,I think we can pat ourselves on the back and say... 'Well done.'
Friday, August 5, 2011
Settling Down.
My lack of writing on this blog probably reflects the settling of the earth in Christchurch. This means my lack of writing on this blog is a good thing!
I find it odd that Tuesday went unmarked in New Zealand and especially in Christchurch. Tuesday, the 2nd of August, we had no earthquakes. Not a single one. We still have regular aftershocks, though I personally feel very few of them, I know they are recorded and are often felt by those I left behind in the Eastern Suburbs. But Tuesday should have been marked, celebrated, a day when the earth stood still in Christchurch.
Of course, the affects of the earthquakes are still with us. We live in broken homes and drive on broken streets, passing either broken buildings or empty lots. Our news is still full earthquake related news: the lack of work, the leaving people, the demolishing of our heritage buildings and the pain of people. It is also there in personal ways, as 5100 households struggle to find new places to live, wait for assurance that money for new homes will really be available, worry about insurance payouts (a very personal stress I know about!) and wonder when life will be normal again.
But the settling of the earth should help. If we can trust it. Can we trust it? Or will the earth surprise us again, just as we start believe things are better?
I find it odd that Tuesday went unmarked in New Zealand and especially in Christchurch. Tuesday, the 2nd of August, we had no earthquakes. Not a single one. We still have regular aftershocks, though I personally feel very few of them, I know they are recorded and are often felt by those I left behind in the Eastern Suburbs. But Tuesday should have been marked, celebrated, a day when the earth stood still in Christchurch.
Of course, the affects of the earthquakes are still with us. We live in broken homes and drive on broken streets, passing either broken buildings or empty lots. Our news is still full earthquake related news: the lack of work, the leaving people, the demolishing of our heritage buildings and the pain of people. It is also there in personal ways, as 5100 households struggle to find new places to live, wait for assurance that money for new homes will really be available, worry about insurance payouts (a very personal stress I know about!) and wonder when life will be normal again.
But the settling of the earth should help. If we can trust it. Can we trust it? Or will the earth surprise us again, just as we start believe things are better?
Monday, June 27, 2011
On The Lighter Side.
Went to a 'Red-Zoned-People's' Earthquake meeting. Also dealing with insurance issues. Too tired and stressed to write about it tonight...so you will have to hold your breath till tomorrow.
So instead I will tell you a joke.
A woman's house is destroyed by a major natural disaster. She contacts her insurance agency and starts asking them questions.
Woman: 'I'm so glad I have insurance. I've been so worried. So do you cover this?'
Insurance: 'No, sorry.'
Woman: 'So do you cover that?'
Insurance: 'No, sorry.'
Woman: 'So, do you cover this?'
Insurance: 'No, sorry.'
Woman: 'Well, why have I been paying for insurance all these years?'
Insurance: 'Peace of mind.'
So instead I will tell you a joke.
A woman's house is destroyed by a major natural disaster. She contacts her insurance agency and starts asking them questions.
Woman: 'I'm so glad I have insurance. I've been so worried. So do you cover this?'
Insurance: 'No, sorry.'
Woman: 'So do you cover that?'
Insurance: 'No, sorry.'
Woman: 'So, do you cover this?'
Insurance: 'No, sorry.'
Woman: 'Well, why have I been paying for insurance all these years?'
Insurance: 'Peace of mind.'
Saturday, June 25, 2011
A City Zoned.
On Thursday, June 23rd, the government announcement concerning the badly damaged land in the eastern suburbs finally came. There was alot of pressure on the government to make this announcement. The task must have been huge. All the land in Christchurch had to be assessed, then it had to be assessed again after the February event, and again and again. There were areas that were badly damaged in the September 4th earthquake, including my own property and many of my neighbors, but not all. By the day of the announcement, all of my close neighbors and 80% of my street is severely damaged.
According to the NZ prime minister, this event is 8% of New Zealand's GDP. (Hurricane Katrina was 1% of the US GDP and the awful March earthquake and tsunami is about 3-5% of the Japanese GDP.) The scale of the thing is huge for a small country.
Surely the government knew there was going to be mixed reaction to the announcement. Some think the deal is too big for the country to sustain, others are sure it is not going meet their own need, others are just sad because they really just wanted the government to fix the land and the infrastructure and allow them to go on living in their home.
I guess most of those who lived in the eastern suburbs were sitting waiting on the press conference as my husband and I were. I had that nervous, fluttery feeling that comes when I'm embarking on a long journey.
Zones, red, orange, green and white. Christchurch was zoned. White,the unmapped, yet to be inspected areas, some of which are badly damaged but only in the last earthquakes. Green, go, as usual. Green zones can start repairs or rebuilds. Red, is too badly damaged and will not be rebuilt. This is where the government will step in and along-side insurance company payouts, the land will be 'bought' by the government.
I am red. As red as red can get, surrounded by red on every side. My years of living by the Avon River are done. My feelings are a profound sadness accompanied by a huge relief. My reaction (and I am not alone) is about as mixed as is possible. It had to be done, and it is best for us to go and get on with it. Yet, I can not imagine we will ever be able to live is such a beautiful place again.
I left out orange, didn't I? Orange is that badly damaged, terribly broken land that has not been made red nor been declared green. Orange zone people (10,000 homes) are the worst off in the city. Broken white zones have only been broken since February, most of the orange zones have been living in difficult circumstances since September.
Red is a sad colour these days in Christchurch. But at least it gives clarity and direction towards the future. I have no mixed feelings about that, I need to look forward now.
According to the NZ prime minister, this event is 8% of New Zealand's GDP. (Hurricane Katrina was 1% of the US GDP and the awful March earthquake and tsunami is about 3-5% of the Japanese GDP.) The scale of the thing is huge for a small country.
Surely the government knew there was going to be mixed reaction to the announcement. Some think the deal is too big for the country to sustain, others are sure it is not going meet their own need, others are just sad because they really just wanted the government to fix the land and the infrastructure and allow them to go on living in their home.
I guess most of those who lived in the eastern suburbs were sitting waiting on the press conference as my husband and I were. I had that nervous, fluttery feeling that comes when I'm embarking on a long journey.
Zones, red, orange, green and white. Christchurch was zoned. White,the unmapped, yet to be inspected areas, some of which are badly damaged but only in the last earthquakes. Green, go, as usual. Green zones can start repairs or rebuilds. Red, is too badly damaged and will not be rebuilt. This is where the government will step in and along-side insurance company payouts, the land will be 'bought' by the government.
I am red. As red as red can get, surrounded by red on every side. My years of living by the Avon River are done. My feelings are a profound sadness accompanied by a huge relief. My reaction (and I am not alone) is about as mixed as is possible. It had to be done, and it is best for us to go and get on with it. Yet, I can not imagine we will ever be able to live is such a beautiful place again.
I left out orange, didn't I? Orange is that badly damaged, terribly broken land that has not been made red nor been declared green. Orange zone people (10,000 homes) are the worst off in the city. Broken white zones have only been broken since February, most of the orange zones have been living in difficult circumstances since September.
Red is a sad colour these days in Christchurch. But at least it gives clarity and direction towards the future. I have no mixed feelings about that, I need to look forward now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)