[Fists] Christchurch Earthquake

[Ralph Sutton]

  From VK4PC-Jim #9679

AREC at the ready following big earthquake

So far *AREC* (Amateur Radio Emergency Communications) volunteers have 
not been required in any major way to assist, following the earthquake 
that hit Christchurch in New Zealand.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred at 4.36am local time Saturday 4 
September, while most people were asleep in their homes.

The result was extensive building damage in New Zealand's second largest 
city, Christchurch, with only two people seriously hurt and no one 
reported trapped or missing.

AREC Deputy Director, Geoff Chapman ZL3PX who lives in Christchurch, 
said that while AREC was at the Civil Defence Headquarters, there has 
been no requirement for it to pass any emergency traffic.

That is due to restoration of telephone and power to the majority of the 
affected areas. While water and sewerage systems have been affected 
there has been no reported major loss of roads or bridges.

However AREC is ready, as the situation could worsen with the weather 
bureau issuing a warning of very strong winds with gusts up to 130km/h 
and heavy rain posing new threats to already damaged buildings.

Adding to the danger are numerous aftershocks with authorities advising 
that these will continue for many days or weeks.

The quake is New Zealand's most damaging since the one which hit Napier 
(Hawke's Bay) in February 1931, that saw radio amateurs extensively 
provide emergency communications.

That led to the formation by the IARU national radio society, the New 
Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters (NZART) of what is today known as *AREC*.

*/Jim Linton VK3PC
/*Chairman,
IARU Region 3,
Disaster Communications Committee.