Flight

Many people are fleeing the area. I can't say as I blame them.

It feels weird that elsewhere life goes on as normal. Far away from here, the earthquake is just something people have read about. Here it is everything. I guess it will be for a long while.

Rae and I slept pretty well last night. Many little tickles (aftershocks) which we didn't feel out here. We really only feel the shocks if they're over a magnitude of 4. Again, those in the city aren't as lucky.

We took Cousteau for a walk down to school.

We found out that there were more volunteers than could be handled out here in Rangiora. Everyone just wants to help. To feel like they're doing something. No matter how little.

In the end, Rae and I went to the Catholic church. We cleaned plastic bottles and filled them with fresh drinking water. The water was taken by teams into the suburbs surrounding the city. Some people have been without water since Tuesday's quake. It felt good to be helping.

Even the aching hips felt good. Some physical pain to help dull the emotions. Nothing quite like it.

Rae had gone off to town to help with a barbecue that some of the young ones are putting on for the residents of one of the 'forgotten' areas. I'm here with the dog and cat. About to take a box of food that my neighbours and I have got together down to the church. I believe it's being taken into town tomorrow.

Edit: I went back to drop some bits off and just got home (@20:30). An amazing guy, Ben from Helicontrax, did four trips back and forth into town today to drop off supplies. We all raced around getting hot food donations from the likes of MacDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut and some local businesses to take to the people most in need of it. It was manic, crazy and unreal. At least those poor people will have a hot meal tonight. Ben is paying for the use of his helicopter and fuel himself. What a wonderfully kind gesture.

We're back in tomorrow morning early for more of the same.

B has been driving around helping out various people in town. Taking them water and doing whatever is needed.

At school, a whole team of students had organised themselves to go into the hardest hit suburbs to help with the clean up. They were going to check on elderly people. Taking them supplies and digging out their cars from the liquefaction that is so wide-spread.

If there is anything positive that has come from this, it is the sense of community. Everyone pulling together to do what they can for each other. Young people get such a bad rap for the most part, but I have talked to some amazing teenagers who have such big hearts that it brings a tear to my eye as I type.

No live rescues today. More bodies pulled from the wreckage.

Eternal rest grant to them, Oh Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen