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Stay back! A damaged building in Christchurch - Source: Andrew and Rebecca Osborn -
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As the initial shock eases, Cantabrians are starting to turn their head to the working week ahead but they are going to have to adjust to disruption for the time being at least as the city tries to ensure it has a sure footing.
Metro bus services covering Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri have been cancelled for at least 24 hours, adding to the disruption after yesterday's quake.
And there will be no school for the children on Monday as the Ministry of Health shuts them down for at least two days.
Canterbury's Medical Officer of Health said under the Health Act and the Civil Defence Act they have declared all schools in the emergency area should remain closed until Wednesday morning. Dr Alistair Humphrey said this should give enough time for structural engineers to check those properties.
All public buildings - courts, libraries and council offices - are also closed for checks.
The University of Canterbury is structurally sound but has made the call to shut for a week to carry out a big clean up.
And businesses all over the city will have to make assessments of their own tomorrow.
"My suggestion is that the employees should contact the employer and make sure that it's business as usual - or not - tomorrow and take it from there," Employers Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend said. "It's really important that employees and employers work closely on this."
But Townsend said there is opportunity among the ruins of the Christchurch business district. He told TVNZ's Q+A programme that the resilience of the Canterbury business community is well known and they are going ahead with a black tie dinner on Thursday night to celebrate the annual business awards.
Townsend has warned people planning on going to work tomorrow not to take any risks when returning to damaged buildings.
Any building with a brick in it has been damaged, but Townsend said the internal damage is much worse.
He said the Chamber of Commerce building is trashed and looks like it has been "picked up, shaken and dropped again".
"The mess inside is huge."
Townsend said the building is typical of those in the CBD but the outer areas have not escaped and warehouses stocked with goods are also a mess.
A lot of people cannot access buildings which are still cordoned off and many will have no idea of the damage inside.
There is a job to be done, Townsend said but he stressed that if anyone was in doubt about a building's safety they should stay away.
And he said while some businesses will struggle to survive, the support from across New Zealand has been stunning.
"It takes more than an earthquake to knock down the business people of Christchurch."
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Post new commentgordy said on 2010-09-09 @ 13:59 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im my 51 years on this earth I have never felt so pertrified..my first thoughts was we had been hit by a nuclear bomb and it was Armageddon. Never ever want to experience it again
schicken said on 2010-09-08 @ 19:15 NZDT: Report abusive post
I thought the same thing initially. However, another quake big enough to close or shift the cracks further is likely to be heard first and all the kids will most likely be fine. If a child does get swallowed up, I'm probably not going to have huge empathy for the media coverage or their parents, but until then, let the region have a little bit of fun. Education about health risks regarding contaminated water may be a good idea for all. :)
thinkaboutit said on 2010-09-06 @ 23:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
More great coverage tonight TVNZ especially highlighting the situation at individual community levels where people reported they felt abandoned. All credit to those organising themselves into community working groups at this level despite this. Arguably the recovery process would be greatly enhanced if these community groups were psychologically and practically supported by establishing official coordination centres at individual community levels.
Madeleine Ware said on 2010-09-06 @ 17:31 NZDT: Report abusive post
You're making some good points here. Perhaps some of the donations could be towards purchasing and setting up storage of these sorts of things. Individuals are also responsible for making their own preparations. I clean and keep old 3L juice bottles filled with water. Every now and then I water my house plants with one and refill it to refresh it.
Madeleine Ware said on 2010-09-06 @ 17:25 NZDT: Report abusive post
Why are they buying water? Aren't there several tankers about the city giving it away?