Rear View Mirror – After The Quake(s)
Hi there team, I know we haven’t done one of these for a while but feel its important to say a couple of things after the big quakes that struck north Canterbury, Kaikoura, Wellington region.
Firstly, how is everyone, did you feel the shake ? We’ve spoken to several people who felt it loud and clear, others slept right through it.
How’s your survival kit looking? Perhaps make it a job this weekend to stock up on tinned, dried foods, water, torches, cooking equipment, gas etc, batteries and a small battery powered radio or 2 . All the info on what you might need should be on various websites.
And have some cash on hand as well, power might be out and that could take out eftpos systems.
Remember we don’t live that far away from active fault lines in the Fiordland region.
Top marks to Southland farmer Andrew Bowmar who got A into G and flew his small aircraft all they way to Clarence to check on relatives after they hadn’t been heard from for some time. That’s initiative!
Also top marks to many local groups and organisations who are swinging into action and assembling care packages of baking and such like to send to folk who are feeling the affects and aftermath of the quakes. If you can help out with any of these groups, we are sure it would be greatly appreciated.
The closure of both State Highway 1 and the main trunk rail line could have serious implications for freight going either way. From what we understand, many of the big-box retailers have big distribution centres in Christchurch which hopefully will keep shop shelves stocked for the foreseeable.
But as everyone can see there is no quick fix with this part of the transport network and as Prime Minister John key has intimated, any solution will cost billions.
Looks like the time has come to have a total top down look on how we get stuff from one end of the country to the other. A review should also take into account the road and rail links that go straight past 2 active and one less active volcanoes in the middle of the North Island.
Maybe the resurgence of coastal shipping may come sooner than expected. What do you reckon?
Have a top week and please get to work on your survival kits. And if you haven’t already done so, say hi to family and friends in that part of the world and make sure they’re OK. They’d be pleased to hear from you.
Toodles
Mal