One week after the big quake

Sept. 11, 2010 - PRLog -- One week after the big quake, Christchurch residents are trying to settle back into normal life.

One week ago, after the big one, relentless aftershocks were rattling through peoples' homes, keeping nerves on edge, and fear at the forefront. The question everyone was asking: when will it stop?

As the city rolled into day seven (yesterday) calm was already returning to the region. Over the last four days the aftershocks have lessened, as has the magnitude of each one. This has enabled many businesses to re-open, once their buildings have been checked and the all clear given – in the form of a notice on the front door.

Many people want to get back to a normal life, and put the whole earthquake saga behind them. In fact, getting back into the routine of mowing the lawns, putting out the rubbish, going to work, has enabled many to believe it’s all over now, to pretend that life is back to normal…and yes, there are such people.

The reality is, the aftershocks could continue for weeks or months. The people who are most fully aware of this are the shell shocked victims whose houses are now uninhabitable. You can tell who these people are by the look on their faces. They are quietly distraught, they are afraid, and they can barely speak. They know full well that it isn’t over yet. These people can’t go back, they have to rebuild…and that is going to take time. These are the people who wish they could pretend life was back to normal. Fortunately these people are the minority. Most houses survived with little or no damage.

What do we do when faced with the prospect of continued aftershocks, and the threat of one as large as a 6.1 magnitude? We do what we can. We clean up. We stock up on supplies. We make sure we have battery operated radios, torches, batteries, bottled water, canned foods, and whatever other survival supplies we need – three days ago this writer bought and installed a cupboard just for this purpose, and it is fully stocked! We make sure we are as prepared as we can be. And then we get on with life, because we must.

With the lessening of the frequency and severity of aftershocks, we have all able to get some sleep, and the stress levels are lessening (at the same rate as the lessening of the aftershocks!) With a few good sleeps we are able to function again. Some nice warm spring weather, sunshine, and a glance at the blooming daffodils and the blossoming cherry trees, and we are fueled with hope for ourselves and out city.

We know we can rebuild, we know that there are some areas where we can do a better job. And, for the first time, we are all involved in this. We care, where before we were indifferent. This is our city, and we feel closer to her than ever before. As harsh as it might be, we have to admit, that this earthquake united Cantabrians!

As a writer even I was left speechless after the quake – the words I expressed, once we were safe and I was sitting on the kitchen floor, are unprintable! Funny how a few good swear words are all you can utter in a crisis!

We survived, and now we get on with life…ever aware that aftershocks will come calling…

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Robyn M Speed is an award winning writer who specializes is visionary fiction. She is also a freelance writer and has been published in newspapers and magazines around the world.
Her website: www.robynmspeed.com. If you feel Robyn may be of service to you, in her capacity as a writer, please contact her via her website.