USAR personnel return for R&R

Eighteen tired urban search and rescue personnel flew into Palmerston North for 36 hours of rest last night, before going back to Christchurch's devastated quake zone.

Taskforce leader Graeme Mills spoke to the Manawatu Standard from the Palmerston North Fire Station, where he and his team were resting after landing in the city at about 8pm.

They would sleep and visit their families before flying back to Canterbury tomorrow, when the other half of the Palmerston North team would fly back to get some rest and recreation.

Mr Mills said the emergency response team had worked six days straight, and attended more than 1000 incidents during that time.

Though their training was rescue-based, they had mainly been assessing structural damage to buildings, helping people collect belongings and securing shaky areas.

The atmosphere was tense, with regular aftershocks putting people on edge. Even the firefighters were feeling unsettled, Mr Mills said.

"We've experienced the same aftershocks, some of which have been pretty scary I must admit.

"A lot of people are just so shocked, and they are really scared. It's not just the physical damage, it's the psychological thing as well with people not sleeping at night."

Considering the devastation he had seen, and the horror stories that were being shared, it was amazing there were no casualties, he said.

"How the hell there has been no loss of life down there is beyond me, really. By some kind of ... great miracle, people have survived."

Yesterday, the city seemed to be pulling together, with residents seeming to shake themselves out of the shock, he said.

"It is starting to move now, people are realising they can't sit and wait because their chimney isn't the only one that has gone through the roof."

The Palmerston North team is one of three New Zealand-wide who have been mobilised to help. Teams from Christchurch and Auckland have also responded.

- © Fairfax NZ News