Christchurch City Council update: 3.00 am, Thursday 24 February 2011
See our New Zealand Earthquakes page or civildefence.govt.nz and canterburyearthquake.org.nz for ongoing updates on the Christchurch Eartquake - infonews.co.nz.
Welfare
- Welfare Centres are currently open at Burnside High School, Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre, Cowles Stadium and Rangiora Baptist Church.
- Food and water are supplied at the centres.
- Residents are advised to bring their own water containers, bedding, personal medicine and sanitary products.
- Food Distribution Centres have made food available to the welfare centres.
- Ongoing assessments of other welfare needs, including possible other centres, are being carried out.
- No work or school until further notice.
- Look after neighbours friends and family.
- Missing persons: please call 0800 733 276 (0800 RED CROSS).
Search and Rescue
320 Search and Rescue personnel (USAR) will be deployed in Christchurch by Thursday 24 February, plus a contingent from Singapore and Japan will be arriving throughout the day.
Search and Rescue personnel are currently on the ground.
St John’s
- Additional staff will be on the ground.
- Rescue helicopters ready to transfer patients to other hospitals around the country.
- People with minor injuries should self-care at home.
- People with moderate injuries should present to Princess Margaret, St Georges or Southern Cross Hospitals.
- Police
Approximately 190 Police staff working overnight on cordons and patrol.
Cordons on the four Avenues will be maintained overnight.
Fire Service
New Zealand, Australian and Singaporean teams deployed.
Water
- Council is slowly increasing the percentage of mains water availability. There are reasonable supplies in Western areas.
- As power is restored to the city, Council will follow through to endeavour to get the water system up and running.
- Water is a serious concern and we strongly advise people to conserve water so don’t:
- Shower
- Take baths, or
- Flush your toilet.
- If it rains, please collect water in buckets.
- Continue to boil water for drinking, cooking and food preparation.
- Save all your water for drinking.
- Water is available at the following Welfare Centres. Please bring your own water containers.
- Burnside High School
- Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre
- Cowles Stadium
- Rangiora Baptist Church
- On-site free-standing water tanks will be replenished at the following sites later today:
- Shirley Intermediate
- Phillipstown School
- Lyttelton School
- South Brighton Primary School
- Wainoni Primary School
- Heaton Intermediate
- Manning Intermediate
- Paparoa Street School
- Chisnallwood Intermediate
- Heathcote Valley School
- Waltham School
- Residents are reminded to bring their own water containers.
Roads
- People are urged to stay at home, essential travel only. We are strongly advising residents not to use the roads which are still being assessed for damage.
- Keep travel to absolute minimum. Congestion on roads will hamper efforts to assess and make them safe.
- Roads between the CBD and Eastern Suburbs are particularly dangerous.
- Wainoni Bridge, Gayhurst Bridge and Avonside Dr/Swanns Rd Bridge are open. Further work is ongoing to open more bridges.
- Kerbside Collections
The Kerbside wheelie bin collection in the city will continue as normal today, Thursday 24 February. Update on Lyttelton to come.
www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz – information available
Government Welfare/Accommodation 0800 779997