After the quake - what's working and what's not

LATEST:  What's working, what isn't and what to do after the earthquake.

ARTS CENTRE

The Arts Centre site has now re-opened to the public. (Monday September 13th)

The site’s restaurants, cafes and bars are trading today, with retail activity commencing tomorrow.

However, some parts of the site remain off-limit to the public, including the Great Hall, the Observatory and the Clock Tower.  

PRESCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS

Most schools are now open today.

All preschools, primary, intermediate and secondary schools in Christchurch, Selwyn district and Kaiapoi were previously closed under the Civil Defence Act.

The closure is to ensure the health of students and teachers and will also give time for proper structural assessments of buildings.

Merivale’s Selwyn House School (122 Merivale Lane - between Winchester and Papanui Rd) - are up and running - in fact, the Year 8 girls are leaving for the Rail Trail as the school focuses on "getting on with life as normal", as quickly as possible.

PPTA has called off today's strike in the Canterbury region.

Rolleston and Clearview: School Camps for next week have also been cancelled.

Rangi Ruru Girls' School: It is with regret that in the interests of safety, the 2010 Gibson Girls' Morning Tea scheduled for the 10 September has been cancelled.

CANTERBURY UNIVERSITY

Staff progressive return confirmed Students back from Wednesday  September 15

Re-start of teaching delayed until Monday September 20

On Wednesday  September 15 the campus will be opened for all students.

The library and computer labs at the College of Education will be operational for all UC students. Student support services, study space and advice will be available for all students at the UCSA building.

A curfew will be in place from 6pm to 6am until Friday 17 September, unless relaxed earlier.

On Monday September 20  we intend to resume lectures and delivery of all teaching programmes, including College of Education programmes.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY is now open

CPIT is open and Graduation will now be held on Friday, October 29

AORAKI Polytechnic: The Structural Engineers have given our Moorhouse Avenue Campus the ‘green’ sticker.
All business will be conducted from the campus as from Thursday morning (16 September 2010).

Temporary Campus operating from Academy NZ, 888 Colombo Street. Students must park on the street.
All campus enquiries phone 0800 426 725
 
Radio & TV Presenting students - class starts Wednesday 15th September at 9.00am  at 888 Colombo Street.

Certificate in Film & TV students meet at 888 Colombo Street on Wednesday 15th September, at 1pm.
 
Certificate in Beauty Treatments Level 4 students have no classes this week. Students will be contacted for next week when plans are finalised.
Level 5 Beauty Treatment assessments will take place at Beauty Sense, 480 Moorhouse Ave, this Thursday 16th September. from 9.00am.

Beauty Skills - ( Friday and Saturday) classes will be held at Beauty Sense, 480 Moorhouse Ave.

Radio and Media students - contact your tutor/s for further information.

DESIGN AND ARTS COLLEGE: Students - D&A is closed to all students until Wednesday 15th, when normal classes will resume.

HOSPITAL

All outpatients facilities are up and running.

Akoroa is now open, but Lincoln and the Burwood birthing until are still closed.   

CINEMA

The Academy, Metro and Cloisters cinemas in central Christchurch were undamaged and reopened Tuesday. The Sumner Hollywood cinema was undamaged and is open.

The Hoyts cinema in the Northlands Shopping Centre suffered cracked walls and damaged projectors, as well as a destroyed screen in one of the auditoriums.

Public Health messages

People need to take the following advice to avoid getting sick with stomach bugs and other illnesses.

1)People living in the Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn districts should assume at the moment that tap water is unsafe and contaminated until advised by the Council that it is safe. All tap water should be boiled for one minute before drinking, brushing teeth or washing/preparing food.  (Note: If you are boiling water in a pot - boil for one minute - if it's in a jug, bring it to the boil twice)

Councils will be testing water supplies intensively over the next few days and will advise when water is safe to use without boiling.   Even though water may look clear, it should be treated as contaminated and unsafe to drink due to damaged underground water and sewage pipes.

2) Avoid contact with sewage.  Assume river, sea water and any other surface water is contaminated with sewage.  Stay away and do not swim, fish or gather shellfish in the sea, Canterbury rivers or any areas of standing water until notified.

3) Use as little water as possible to flush your toilet if you have water.  If you don't have water, make a temporary toilet with a bin lined with two plastic bags. Cover the bin between uses.  The contents can be buried when the bin is no longer needed.  Details of how to make a temporary toilet can be found at http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/protecting-your-health-in-an-emergency

4) Remember hand washing stops diseases spreading.  Cold water is fine as long as you use soap and dry your hands thoroughly.  If you do not have water, alcohol gel is a good alternative.  You don't need to dry your hands if you use alcohol gel.

5) It is important for people to look after each other.  Keep in touch with families, friends and neighbours and support each other.

6) If you are unwell with a minor injury or illness and need medical assistance call your General Practice or nearest after hours surgery. Please keep the Emergency Department for emergencies only.  If you need an ambulance dial 111.

7) Dishwashers should only be used on a full hot wash and dry cycle with detergent.

CHIMNEY ADVICE

Canterbury's home-owners are being urgerd not to light their fires until chimneys have been checked by building officials or insurers.

Cooler weather is expected to arrive in Canterbury from tomorrow, and homeowners could be tempted to light their fires, says Chris Ryan of the Insurance Council.

Chris Ryan says, “It’s most important that chimneys are checked either by City Council building officials or loss adjusters working for EQC. Other sources of heating should be used until chimneys are confirmed to be safe. A fire lit in a damaged chimney could cause the whole house to burn down with the risk of lives being lost.”

With the continued aftershocks occurring in the Canterbury region, it would be wise for living spaces containing chimneys should not be used for sleeping. If an earthquake is felt, move to an area away from your fireplace/chimney.

To lodge a claim with EQC call 0800 326 243 or contact your insurance company. 

Primary (GP) Care and Pharmacy services

General practice is up and running in Canterbury.  If you need to see a doctor please phone or go to your usual general practice.  If your GP is in the cordoned off area in the inner city, phone your general practice for advice - a service will be available for you.  For all non urgent and routine matters, please call your general practice for advice on whether they have sufficient staff to attend to routine matters - this will vary from practice to practice

Pharmacies

Most pharmacies in Canterbury are operating as usual. If any patients can't access the pharmacy, new prescriptions and requests for repeats can be faxed or phoned through from their usual GP. New and repeat prescriptions can then be collected from the Urgent Pharmacy in Bealey Avenue.

If patients are unable to contact their regular pharmacy by telephone for repeats, they can get a seven day emergency supply of medicine from the Urgent Pharmacy in Bealey Avenue - for urgent medical supplies only.  Pharmacies in the cordoned off area of Kaiapoi will be operational for urgent medical supplies. Entry to the cordoned off area for urgent medical supplies will be permitted at the discretion of the police. Please phone your pharmacy or the Urgent Pharmacy with any queries.

Healthline calls

Callers are asked to use a landline rather than a cellphone if possible.  Callers should keep on the line if they're on hold and to try again if they're cut off.

Healthline provides free health advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week 0800 611 116.

WINZ

Five Work and Income offices in Christchurch are confirmed safe and are open to provide emergency support.

They are: Linwood, Hornby, Riccarton, New Brighton and Shirley. Work and Income sites at Papanui, Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Sydenham remain closed, as well as CYF's Torren house.

LEGAL SERVICES

People in Christchurch needing legal work have been told it may get done on time but Saturday's earthquake may also cause serious delays.

The New Zealand Law Society said people with urgent legal matters should contact their own lawyer first as many law firms reopened for business, particularly those in suburban Christchurch.

The society's Canterbury-Westland branch manager, Malcolm Ellis, said many firms could be contacted by telephone or email.

He said one property sale was settled today and settlements through the major banks could probably be done at banking centres outside Canterbury.

He said anyone with an urgent legal inquiry who could not contact their own lawyer could call one of three lawyers.

"We will not be able to give full legal advice, but will be able to discuss concerns and suggest the next course of action."

The three were: Malcolm Ellis (027 229 1773 for general inquiries; Allister Davis (027 227 5333 for inquiries on litigation; and Ferne Bradley (03 343 5880) or 027 223 4289 for property inquiries.

WELFARE CENTRES

Two of the three Christchurch centres set up at Linwood High School, Addington Raceway and Burnside High School have been closed.

Cowles Stadium in Linwood is the last welfare centre operating in the city.

Food, water, accommodation and other help were provided.

ROADS

A list of road restrictions and closures in Christchurch can be found on ccc.govt.nz.

Restrictions remain in place throughout the CBD and a bus system continues operating a modified route system and functioning as smoothly as possible.

Lyttelton tunnel is closed periodically to allow dangerous goods movement. Planned convoys are taking place at 10.30am and 3.30pm.

Some road control measures will continue and some roads (listed below) will be closed until further notice as repairs continue.

• Avonside Drive, east end of Morris Street to Bowie Ave and from Avondale Road to Wainoni Rd
• Rolleston Ave, from Worcester Street to Hereford Street
• Victoria Street, from Salisbury Street to Bealey Avenue
• London Street (Empire Hotel) from Canterbury Street to Oxford Street
• Kilmore Street, from Durham Street to Cranmer Square
• Woolsack Lane
• Lichfield Street between Manchester Street and Madras Street
• Kaianga Road, from Brooklands to Kaianga
• Sumner Road from Oxford Street to Summit Road
• Bridge closed on Sabys Road, near Trices Road and Ellesmere Road
• SHW1 Chaneys Road on-ramp closed (main North Road to Northern motorway)
• High Street from Cashel Street to Manchester Street/Lichfield Street
• Hereford Street/Manchester Street intersection
• SH 74 – Dyers Road from Bridge Street roundabout to Metro Place
• Bedford Row from Manchester Street, half way to Madras Street

CITY COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS

The new Hereford St civic centre is now open. Other council service centres are closed until they have been structurally assessed. The city council helpline is 941-8999


WATER AND SEWAGE

Christchurch and Banks Peninsula residents are no longer required to boil their water after restrictions were lifted.

However, a notice is still in place to boil water in parts of the Waimakariri district, including Kaiapoi, Waikuku Beach, Woodend and Pines Beach.

Restrictions on boiling water in Christchurch were lifted after three days of tests found no bacteria in samples.

RUBBISH

The Christchurch City Council advises residents that their rubbish will continue to be collected as usual in most areas of the city.

HEATING

Residents are advised not to use open fires due to the risk of further aftershocks. Please also be careful when using candles for lighting.

ORANA WILDLIFE PARK

Orana Wildlife Park has reopened. There is no structural damage.

Staff are mourning the loss of Gidro, a 10 year old black and white ruffed lLemur that sadly drowned as a result of the Christchurch earthquake.  Gidro is believed to be one of the few fatalities of the earthquake.

However, native fauna keepers remain very concerned about a Kiwi egg that is due to hatch soon. "We lost power for almost four hours and that poor little egg was rocked about inside its incubator. Today we saw movement in the egg so we are hopeful that the chick will hatch - but it will be a miracle if the chick is alright" says Tara Atkinson, Head Keeper of Native Fauna.

SOUTHERN ENCOUNTER AQUARIUM

Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House in Cathedral Square suffered some damage as a result of the earthquake.

However, Operations Manager, Dave Bradshaw, says things could have been much worse: "Unfortunately two fish died and there has been a lot of water damage owing to water slopping out from the tanks into the aquarium and our gift shop. Luckily we have waterproof carpet. There is no apparent damage to any of our tanks and, pending an engineer's inspection, we hope to re-open again this Thursday."

WILLOWBANK WILDLIFE RESERVE

Willowbank's animals and property are safe and sound and the reserve is fully operational.

WOMEN'S REFUGE
Christchurch Women's Refuge advises that their family violence crisis services, which include telephone support and residential services, are operating as normal.

As usual, the Safe House is available for those with urgent family violence related safety needs.

If you need assistance or support please call the free phone line on 0800 1 REFUGE (0800 1 733 843).

PETS

Advice from Merivale Papanui Veterinary Clinic: We have been responding to a number of enquiries from our clients whose pets are very stressed or still missing after the earthquake on Saturday morning.

Cats are very good at surviving and will often come back in a few days time.  If they are missing we advise that you look around the neighbourhood carefully because it is quite common for cats to be holed up in someone's garage close by.

If your pet is fearful and hiding it is important that you do not exacerbate the situation by over cuddling and excessive attention.  Behaving as normally as possible and sticking to a normal routine is the best way to show your pets that all is well.   Keep to your normal feed times and walking times.  If they are anxious, try to be calm yourself and try to divert their stressed behaviour.  Work on some training exercises with your dog or play with your cat.  Try and make the play/exercise as positive as possible with plenty of rewards.

Calming agents are available.  Feliway and DAP are products that contain a natural appeasing pheromone that can be plugged in like an air freshener or sprayed onto bandanas and tied around the neck of the pet.  Others include rescue remedy, lavender oil and some other natural products. 

In severe stress there are other prescription drugs that may be useful in the short term to keep your pet calm.  We are available for consultation to discuss their safe use.

- © Fairfax NZ News