Then, and now. It is strange how things blur, what you forget, and what you remember.
It was shake, awake, get out, fear, and heck, is everyone ok? And wow, there is the chimney all over the backyard.
This is what I saw shortly after 4.35am, after the 7.1 earthquake on 4 September 2010. Victoria Street, Christchurch.
The same spot on Victoria Street is now home to a lineup of the new Christchurch – Smash Palace, etc.
This blog proved to be a handy place from which to share information. Our first library blog post on 4 September 2010:
Christchurch experienced a major earthquake this morning 4.35am, Saturday 4 September 2010 …
Our book chat switched into Civil Defence, community information, library info, and ideas to look after the kids. (see our September 2010 posts).
Oh, and portaloo hugging.
In the days to come, there was so much to see and discover. We entered into a new shocking and aftershocking world.
Of all the post September quake-related sights, one I will alway remember is a moment of rare delicacy, when the worker used his machinery to lift a chandelier, which he then passed to the owner. All of us watching cheered.
More photos and stories:
- Kete Christchurch earthquake images
- See more images in our Flickr set After the earthquake
- 4 September 2010 DigitalNZ set
- UC CEISMIC Earthquake Digital Archive
- QuakeStories
Our blog posts
- 4 September 2013: Looking back at 4 September 2010
- 4 September 2012: We woke up. 4.35am
- 4 September 2011: We are history – How earthquakes have connected us with the past and future
On the website
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 