Christchurch Shifting To Recovery
From TV New Zealand’s Live Updates:
5:43pm Supt Dave Cliff says the confirmed death toll has risen to 160 this afternoon. The families of those still missing went on a tour of the CBD sites where USAR teams are working today.
5:38pm Civil Defence Controller Steve Brazier says five journalists have had their accreditation revoked for breaching the cordon.
5:30pm The Red Cross has announced details of its emergency grants.
From tomorrow, people living in their homes without power or water or sewerage, or people forced to leave their home because of damage or because they have no water or power or sewerage can apply for a grant of $500 for single people (per household) or $1,000 for couples and families (per household).
Bereavement grants of $10,000 are available for the next of kin of confirmed deceased.
People from overseas affected by the earthquake are eligible to apply for these grants.
In addition to the damaged and destroyed buildings, people are dealing with gale force winds which are filling the air with dust and debris. The beaches are all closed because of the contamination caused by the destruction of structures and the sewage system.
People are adjusting, with students being placed in other schools and universities for at least a semester, while their schools are rebuilt or repaired. The ANZAC spirit is still there, and life will continue.
2 comments
Imagine. A government helping its people during a crisis. What a novel concept.
Last century when a guy named Clinton was President, the US did that sort of thing through an agency called FEMA, but the Republicans felt it was too socialist, promoting the general Welfare and all, so they destroyed the agency.