Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?

897 Responses

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  • Che Tibby, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    humane purpose would be served by emergency workers (or Key and English) speculating?

    none. it's more likely that numbers get tallied as they come in, then are reduced when duplicates are identified.

    but >1 is more than enough, no?

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Brislen,

    I have the urge to go buy Bob some toy cars. Last year at Foo, Bob and I spent a lovely half hour with cars playing in the dirt.

    Hopefully we can do something more substantial today. Let me know.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    That account is just incredible.

    I wish I could do something to help.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • JoJo,

    Someone has set up a facebook page for people wanting to offer a room to Cantabrians affected by the quake. It's called 'Accommodation for Earthquake Stricken Cantabrians'. I don't know how much use it is, given that much of Chch is without power, but it's a bloody nice thought.

    Found out that my best friend and her husband (who has been working on buildings damaged in September) are both okay. So crying tears of relief now.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Man that Haywood chap can write.

    My birthday present from Emma arrived this morning. I cried in front of the courier guy.

    Glad to hear from Lilith (who we just met a couple of weeks ago), and everyone.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Sorry Craig, I was talking about the police getting real. Not us this time. But one has to think what the world will see when the death count starts dropping. For all of us we don't know who we know have gone but hiding the numbers for bureaucracy's sake seems very strange to me. There has to be a morgue being set up somewhere so the number of bodies being placed there is a number worth knowing. Surely. Said extremely sympathetically.

    Edit after reading Davids Guardian. That Bob is going to be a handful. I hope he remembers it for his lifetime. Maybe he knows Playcentre is heaps better than Kindergarten......

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to JoJo,

    I don’t know how much use it is, given that much of Chch is without power, but it’s a bloody nice thought.

    Was thinking we could do something similar on here, but then thought, with a few exceptions, including two elderly people I know of who really need to get away for their own sanity and wellbeing, hard to imagine people walking away. Maybe in a little while though, as a form of respite. It would be nice to feel there was something tangible we could do. Apart from donating on the Red Cross page, which I’m trying to do now, but having difficulties with. Maybe overloaded.

    ETA: Worked. Privilege guilt assuaged by one millionth of a percent.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    See also http://www.eq.org.nz/ - centralised site for information

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to Ross Mason,

    For all of us we don't know who we know have gone but hiding the numbers for bureaucracy's sake seems very strange to me.

    As Che pointed out, it isn't for bureaucracy's sake - it's because with the city the way it is there probably is no way to accurately tally the unconfirmed dead and, more importantly, there are the living to find. Seriously - who do you think does this? The police and fire crews have much, much more important things to do. So they'll announce what they can accurately confirm. It's not a conspiracy or a failure to grasp reality. Let it go.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Ross Mason,

    From what I understand the fluctuating count arises from counting as dead people who can be seen but not reached. But also because no one has sat down and worked out a death count methodology, it's just not a priority. Someone shouts into a building, hears one person in there saying there's a dead person near him - what do you count? You're more concerned with the person still shouting, and how to get to them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ross Mason,

    For all of us we don't know who we know have gone but hiding the numbers for bureaucracy's sake seems very strange to me. There has to be a morgue being set up somewhere so the number of bodies being placed there is a number worth knowing.

    The *names* are more important than numbers ever will be.

    Counting is just trivial while there are still so many people alive in need of rescue and dead in need of their loved ones knowing. I support authorities putting all their efforts there rather than fuelling pointless armchair speculation.

    more importantly, there are the living to find.

    You're more concerned with the person still shouting, and how to get to them.

    Snap

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Counting is just trivial while there are still so many people alive in need of rescue and dead in need of their loved ones knowing. I support authorities putting all their efforts there rather than fuelling pointless armchair speculation.

    Yes.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Jane Pearson,

    My niece had been listed as a missing person yesterday early evening. Late last night, my sister was rung by the police to say they had spoken with her and she was okay. Huge relief for us all and a bouquet to the police.

    Since Feb 2010 • 28 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Jane Pearson,

    Huge relief for us all and a bouquet to the police.

    Great to hear, Jane.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    For once Granny was useful, and explained that the difference between Key's "65" and this morning's "38" is body identification and notification of next-of-kin. Whilst I'm very dubious about this as a long-term proposition, especially once USAR starts pulling apart PGC and CTV in a big way over the next couple of days, for the short term it makes sense because it absolutely avoids double-counting.

    Once there's a proper morgue system established for registering bodies, it becomes more reasonable to report on the number of persons who have passed through the morgue because the unidentified bodies are still tagged with a unique ID.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Yes, well. Wearing my ER hat, I did think this morning of the buildings around Auckland. And didn't like what I thought so I stopped. But we must, absolutely must, confront the risk and possibilities of a serious natural energy releasing event in Auckland. Slipping off said hat.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Paul Brislen,

    Hopefully we can do something more substantial today.

    For those of us too far away to be of real physical help we can buy their books. I'm guessing delivery may be slightly slower than usual but the books are very good and it will help the authors we care about directly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Maybe he knows Playcentre is heaps better than Kindergarten......

    Yes, in between quibbling about how casualties are reported I think we should highlight the Haywoods' flawed preschool choices - how appropriate at this time.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Phenomenal article, David. I'm so glad you and Jen and your wee ones are safe.

    I guess we may not be delivering those Bob the Builder undies in person, now. (And just when little Bob really needs them!). Let me know where to mail them. Or better still, can you all fly north and pick them up??

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    We're all OK and ensconced with my in-laws in Rolleston who have power, well water and a septic tank. a brief external examination suggests that our house is still standing and dry of floor despite our street looking like a river and accesible only by 4WD or very tall gumboots.

    We were all in the centre of town when the quake struck. The kids were upstairs at school (Discovery1 in the bus exchange building), I was eating lunch in The Crossing foodcourt and Jamie was walking down Columbo street to meet me. I found Jamie almost immdeiately but it took what seemed like ages for the school to evacuate (I think they were waiting for police who didn't seem to know there was a school there). Once the kids were out we made our way to the square and on to the botanic gardens. I stayed watching my friend's daughters (one who only started school three weeks ago) until my friend arrived and we walked out to their car on Bealy Ave. We are so lucky to be together and unharned but this morning I am suffering from the (shivery and spewy) effects of delayed shock. How Cantabrians will find the strength to pick ourselves up and rebuild is beyond me though I am sure we will.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    But one has to think what the world will see when the death count starts dropping.

    Frankly, I credit the world with enough intelligence to understand the perfectly sensible protocol the Police follow in their official statements, or the consistent refusal of officers on the ground to guestimate or speculate. I know an officer who got torn a new arsehole for an unguarded comment to a journalist at an accident scene that was inaccurate and had to be publicly corrected. Not least because of the totally unnecessary distress and uncertainty it caused to the families of the victims.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    To make a donation:
    - Phone 0900 33 200 to make an automatic $20 donation
    - FreeTXT 'QUAKE' to 555 to donate $5 or FreeTXT 'QUAKE' to 333 to donate $3 from any Vodafone mobile
    - Donate online at redcross.org.nz
    - Donate in person at any branch of NZ Post, Kiwibank, ANZ, National Bank, ASB, TSB and BNZ across New Zealand.
    - Mail a cheque (made payable to New Zealand Red Cross) to: Canterbury Earthquake Appeal, Freepost 232690, PO Box 12-140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144.

    (source)
    Also:
    Salvation Army
    Appeal Page
    Donation line: 0800 53 00 00

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    We could all chip in and organise out-of-town respite for our PA friends from Chch, when they're each ready for a break from it. Perhaps Russell or someone can coordinate?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    worst unverified tweet to date?

    man learns of father's death by seeing his body on TV.

    <punch to the gut>

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Sacha,

    Perhaps Russell or someone can coordinate?

    The Orcon Great Sleepover. I think it's a great idea.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

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