Porirua really is amazing. The sheer numbers of people offering to help in any way they possibly can really does give me a huge warm fuzzy feeling of pride for this city.
Immediately after news of the earthquake we had staff helping in the National Crisis Management Centre under the Beehive, including through the night, we also had staff helping coordinate the Wellington regional response from a base at the Wellington Emergency Management Office.
We've deployed a team of building inspectors to Christchurch as well as a team of our waterworks & drainage people.
Our Red Cross team has been helping at Wellington airport, helping the tourists caught in Christchurch to get home or just somewhere else, and a team of 8 of them are waiting on standby to head down to Christchurch.
And we've also had people helping out at the welfare centres in Wellington.
Go team!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Severe Weather Warning - Northwest gales for Wednesday
MetService has issued a Severe Weather Warning for gale force northwesterlies to develop in the Wellington region overnight Tuesday. From 3am Wednesday until early Wednesday afternoon, expect gusts to 120km/hr over exposed hilltops and to the lee of higher terrain.
Take care when driving high-sided vehicles & motorbikes, and make sure loose things around your home are secured. If you can delay putting out your rubbish & recycling until first thing in teh morning that should hopefully keep down the wmount that ends up blown all over the show.
Take care when driving high-sided vehicles & motorbikes, and make sure loose things around your home are secured. If you can delay putting out your rubbish & recycling until first thing in teh morning that should hopefully keep down the wmount that ends up blown all over the show.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Helplines, donations, blood donations, Red Cross enquiries
Government help line:
Call the Ministry of Social Development's Government help line 0800 779 997 for information about all government services and support.
Donations - please give cash not goods
People wanting to contribute to the response are encouraged to contribute financially ONLY. (No donations of goods or services at this time please).
Call the Ministry of Social Development's Government help line 0800 779 997 for information about all government services and support.
Donations - please give cash not goods
People wanting to contribute to the response are encouraged to contribute financially ONLY. (No donations of goods or services at this time please).
Cash donations to:
Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate
Salvation Army: 0800 53 00 00 (Specify that your donation is for the ‘Canterbury Earthquake Appeal’)
Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate
Salvation Army: 0800 53 00 00 (Specify that your donation is for the ‘Canterbury Earthquake Appeal’)
Any ANZ Bank branch: Account number 01-1839-0188939-00
Any National Bank branch: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00
Any Westpac Bank branch: Account number 03-0207-0617331-00
Any ASB Bank branch: Account number 12-3205-0146808-00
Any BNZ Bank branch: Account number 02-0500-0982004-000
Any Kiwibank branch: Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00
In addition, a Mayoral Fund has been set up to accept donations to Chritstchurch citizens at the following BNZ bank account: 02-0800-084958-000
Blood Donations
NZ Blood has announced that the Christchurch Blood Donor Centre will be closed until further notice. They have good supplies of blood in Christchurch and have supplies they can bring in from other centres. At this stage blood stock are fine, but if the situation changesthey will inform people via their website (www.nzblood.co.nz) or via Facebook.
Red Cross Person Enquiry Line now activated
The New Zealand Red Cross Person Enquiry Line is now activated.
People in New Zealand concerned about the wellbeing of friends and relatives in Christchurch should call 0800 REDCROSS (0800 733 276).
If you are unable to contact a friend or relative in the Christchurch area, call the Red Cross Person Enquiry Line. Red Cross will be able to tell you if they have registered with Civil Defence. People are encouraged to do this before reporting friends and relatives missing.
People enquiring from outside New Zealand should call +64 7 850 2199
You can also email the Red Cross on nzrcneoc@redcross.org.nz
Any National Bank branch: Account number 06-0869-0548507-00
Any Westpac Bank branch: Account number 03-0207-0617331-00
Any ASB Bank branch: Account number 12-3205-0146808-00
Any BNZ Bank branch: Account number 02-0500-0982004-000
Any Kiwibank branch: Account number: 38-9009-0759479-00
In addition, a Mayoral Fund has been set up to accept donations to Chritstchurch citizens at the following BNZ bank account: 02-0800-084958-000
Blood Donations
NZ Blood has announced that the Christchurch Blood Donor Centre will be closed until further notice. They have good supplies of blood in Christchurch and have supplies they can bring in from other centres. At this stage blood stock are fine, but if the situation changesthey will inform people via their website (www.nzblood.co.nz) or via Facebook.
Red Cross Person Enquiry Line now activated
The New Zealand Red Cross Person Enquiry Line is now activated.
People in New Zealand concerned about the wellbeing of friends and relatives in Christchurch should call 0800 REDCROSS (0800 733 276).
If you are unable to contact a friend or relative in the Christchurch area, call the Red Cross Person Enquiry Line. Red Cross will be able to tell you if they have registered with Civil Defence. People are encouraged to do this before reporting friends and relatives missing.
People enquiring from outside New Zealand should call +64 7 850 2199
You can also email the Red Cross on nzrcneoc@redcross.org.nz
Red Cross Person Enquiry Line now activated
The New Zealand Red Cross Person Enquiry Line is now activated.
People in New Zealand concerned about the wellbeing of friends and relatives in Christchurch should call 0800 REDCROSS (0800 733 276).
If you are unable to contact a friend or relative in the Christchurch area, call the Red Cross Person Enquiry Line. Red Cross will be able to tell you if they have registered with Civil Defence.
People are encouraged to do this before reporting friends and relatives missing.
People enquiring from outside New Zealand should call +64 7 850 2199.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Apologies for the lack of further updates here, but we've been deployed to the National Crisis Management Centre, and I've been far too busy to be able to update here. It's dominating the news, so turning on the radio will get you up to date information.
Porirua City Council has several staff rostered on to help at the NCMC over the next few days, and our building inspectors and drainage teams, and Red Cross team are all on standby, ready to help.
Our thoughts go out to those affected.
National Advisory - Earthquake - 6.3 quake in Christchurch
National Advisory - Earthquake
No: 01
Issued at 13:25 hours on 22/02/2011
Issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).
Earthquake Parameters:
Location: 10 km South-East of Christchurch
NZ origin time: NZDT 12:51 2011 Feb 22
Co-ordinates: (Latitude, Longitude) 43.60S, 172.71E
Depth: (Focal depth) 5km
Magnitude: (Richter Magnitude) 6.3The above magnitude is provisional and may be adjusted as more seismic data becomes available.
Damage Assessment:The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) is assessing information with the assistance of scientific advisors and Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups.
NCMC status: The National Crisis Management Centre is being activated.
Advice for the public. People in the affected area should:
· Expect aftershocks. Each time one is felt, drop, cover, and hold on.
· Check yourself first for injuries and get first aid if necessary before helping injured or trapped persons.
· Assess your home or workplace for damage. If the building appears unsafe get everyone out. Use the stairs, not an elevator and when outside, watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines. Stay out of damaged areas.
· Look for and extinguish small fires if it is safe to do so. Fire is a significant hazard following earthquakes.
· Listen to the radio for updated emergency information and instructions.
· Do not overload phone lines with non-emergency calls.
· Help people who require special assistance - infants, elderly people, those without transportation, families who may need additional help, people with disabilities, and the people who care for them.
Detailed safety advice will come from local authorities and emergency services in the area. People should act on it promptly.
MCDEM, local civil defence authorities and scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation.This advisory has been issued to all local civil defence authorities, emergency services, other agencies and media.
Next steps: Further updates will be issued as information becomes available. This will be the only message issued using the National Warning System. Further updates will be communicated using normal means, including media releases.
Issued by: Message authorised by the National Controller, Civil Defence Emergency Management.
End of Message
No: 01
Issued at 13:25 hours on 22/02/2011
Issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).
Earthquake Parameters:
Location: 10 km South-East of Christchurch
NZ origin time: NZDT 12:51 2011 Feb 22
Co-ordinates: (Latitude, Longitude) 43.60S, 172.71E
Depth: (Focal depth) 5km
Magnitude: (Richter Magnitude) 6.3The above magnitude is provisional and may be adjusted as more seismic data becomes available.
Damage Assessment:The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) is assessing information with the assistance of scientific advisors and Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups.
NCMC status: The National Crisis Management Centre is being activated.
Advice for the public. People in the affected area should:
· Expect aftershocks. Each time one is felt, drop, cover, and hold on.
· Check yourself first for injuries and get first aid if necessary before helping injured or trapped persons.
· Assess your home or workplace for damage. If the building appears unsafe get everyone out. Use the stairs, not an elevator and when outside, watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines. Stay out of damaged areas.
· Look for and extinguish small fires if it is safe to do so. Fire is a significant hazard following earthquakes.
· Listen to the radio for updated emergency information and instructions.
· Do not overload phone lines with non-emergency calls.
· Help people who require special assistance - infants, elderly people, those without transportation, families who may need additional help, people with disabilities, and the people who care for them.
Detailed safety advice will come from local authorities and emergency services in the area. People should act on it promptly.
MCDEM, local civil defence authorities and scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation.This advisory has been issued to all local civil defence authorities, emergency services, other agencies and media.
Next steps: Further updates will be issued as information becomes available. This will be the only message issued using the National Warning System. Further updates will be communicated using normal means, including media releases.
Issued by: Message authorised by the National Controller, Civil Defence Emergency Management.
End of Message
Monday, February 21, 2011
All shook up?
Did anyone feel the earthquakes over the weekend?
There was a 3.9 at 5:51pm on Friday centred 25km down, and 20km south-west of Wellington - http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3466704g.html
And a 3.8 just 10km north of Porirua, centred 40km down - http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3467053g.html
I missed them both.
There was a 3.9 at 5:51pm on Friday centred 25km down, and 20km south-west of Wellington - http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3466704g.html
And a 3.8 just 10km north of Porirua, centred 40km down - http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3467053g.html
I missed them both.
Friday, February 18, 2011
When does it stop?
I have a habit of reading the comments that people post on Stuff articles. Whenever there's an article about yet another aftershock for Canterbury someone inevitably asks the question - when do they stop being aftershocks and start being new earthquakes?
The simple answer is, all aftershocks are earthquakes, but not all earthquakes are aftershocks.
An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip along a faultline or tectonic plate boundary that releases stress which has built up.
Imagine trying to push a chair with rubber feet around on the lino. You start pushing on the chair with a constant but small amount of pressure - this is you moving the chair like a tectonic plate. The rubber is providing a fair bit of resistance (like the plates do between each other), so the chair doesn't budge for a while, but then suddenly skids forward a bit (that's your earthquake) and then kind of stutters to a halt as the rubber catches, lets go, catches & lets go again (those are your aftershocks) and then finally stops as you aren't applying the same amount of pressure until you catch up to your chair and start applying the pressure again.
The techtonic plates are being pushed around by pretty constant pressure, but at the boundaries they can get a bit stuck on snags on the other plates. When the pressure gets high enough to overcome the friction, it'll give in an earthquake, and then stutter to a halt once the pressure has all been released. In some places you can get slow earthquakes where there don't seem to be many snags, so the plates slide on past each other without much more than little tremors, or you can get bits that have been all locked up for thousands of years, and then suddenly let go with a hell of a bang.
Canterbury has had the big slip, but hasn't quite finished its movement yet. It's still trying to iron out all the wrinkles, and that may take years to be complete - afterall, it hadn't gone in 16000? years.
Here's the seismograph drum record from Canterbury this morning. As you can see, there are still a lot of snags letting go.
Here's Wellington's for comparison.
The simple answer is, all aftershocks are earthquakes, but not all earthquakes are aftershocks.
An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip along a faultline or tectonic plate boundary that releases stress which has built up.
Imagine trying to push a chair with rubber feet around on the lino. You start pushing on the chair with a constant but small amount of pressure - this is you moving the chair like a tectonic plate. The rubber is providing a fair bit of resistance (like the plates do between each other), so the chair doesn't budge for a while, but then suddenly skids forward a bit (that's your earthquake) and then kind of stutters to a halt as the rubber catches, lets go, catches & lets go again (those are your aftershocks) and then finally stops as you aren't applying the same amount of pressure until you catch up to your chair and start applying the pressure again.
The techtonic plates are being pushed around by pretty constant pressure, but at the boundaries they can get a bit stuck on snags on the other plates. When the pressure gets high enough to overcome the friction, it'll give in an earthquake, and then stutter to a halt once the pressure has all been released. In some places you can get slow earthquakes where there don't seem to be many snags, so the plates slide on past each other without much more than little tremors, or you can get bits that have been all locked up for thousands of years, and then suddenly let go with a hell of a bang.
Canterbury has had the big slip, but hasn't quite finished its movement yet. It's still trying to iron out all the wrinkles, and that may take years to be complete - afterall, it hadn't gone in 16000? years.
Here's the seismograph drum record from Canterbury this morning. As you can see, there are still a lot of snags letting go.
Here's Wellington's for comparison.
Once Canterbury's drum records go back to looking like ours, then maybe you can stop calling them aftershocks, but that might not be for years. Chile is still having some quite large aftershocks from last year's big quake.
Friday, February 11, 2011
A thin blue line
So the residents of Island Bay have been working alongside Wellington City Council’s Emergency Management Office (WEMO) and GNS Science to help prepare the community for a tsunami - and discussions have resulted in a "blue line safe zone" concept.
This will see a series of blue lines painted across some streets throughout the suburb marking the tsunami safety zone. Once you cross the line and move uphill you are likely to be safe from tsunami.
“The line indicates where the safety zone would start if there was a tsunami generated by a large local earthquake,” Emergency Preparedness Manager, Fred Mecoy says.
“The idea behind it was to clearly mark out a safe zone and to create something that would encourage word-of-mouth interest in the community and ongoing education about tsunamis.”
An article on Stuff shows what they look like - http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4646350/Tsunami-line-divides-Island-Bay
So what do you think? Would it be a good idea for Porirua? We'd love your feedback.
This will see a series of blue lines painted across some streets throughout the suburb marking the tsunami safety zone. Once you cross the line and move uphill you are likely to be safe from tsunami.
“The line indicates where the safety zone would start if there was a tsunami generated by a large local earthquake,” Emergency Preparedness Manager, Fred Mecoy says.
“The idea behind it was to clearly mark out a safe zone and to create something that would encourage word-of-mouth interest in the community and ongoing education about tsunamis.”
An article on Stuff shows what they look like - http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4646350/Tsunami-line-divides-Island-Bay
So what do you think? Would it be a good idea for Porirua? We'd love your feedback.
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