(no subject)
Cath and I are okay and so incredibley gratefull everyone else is too!
I was on the fourth floor of the Link Center building in Hereford street. I was knocked off my feet and was trying to crawl under a table but couldn't because the shaking was just so violent and everyone at my course made it out of the building alright, although I was shaking so bad and people were decking pushing me, I didn't trip (I did hear that some stairs on the other side of the building collapsed and trapped some people who I believe managed to be rescued). One of the girls in my class, Belinda had the coke machine fall on her but the others in my class managed to take some of the brunt of it and get it off her pretty quick, she said she had an egg on the back of her head but didn't feel dizzy or sick so hopefully she wasn't concussed.
We got out onto Hereford street and I looked left and saw all the dust which I just thought it was drizzle at first until somebody told me it wasn't. Everyone was out on the street hugging, crying and in shock.
We were all herded down the street, and I hadn't realised how bad it actually was, I mean it felt so much more violent than the 7.1 but it wasn't untill we were walking down the street towards Latimer Square and seeing every single building we passed had cracks and damage that I realised. We saw the smoke billowing from the CTV building and heard it was nearly completely flattened and we realised just how decking lucky we are because the course I am taking moved from it's old campus which was on the second story of the CTV building round into Hereford street in December.
I was so stupid yesterday morning because I saw Vlad's (my phone) battery was getting low but I thought to myself "Oh I can charge it this afternoon when I get home" and he decided to run flat just as the earthquake struck, so I coudn't get in touch with anyone. So I am really sorry for scaring everybody and I can promise to try and never let it happen in the future.
I was in Latimer Sqaure for about 1.5-2hours. Recieved and gave so many hugs. I saw a few people I knew who worked in the Kathmandu building next to the Crossing and they said that the roof of their building collapsed, and I was hoping that my work mates and everyone made it out of the Crossing safe. I've heard stories about what it was like in Cashel stree and it just sounded absolutely terrifying.
We were told that if we could we should try and make it back to our houses, so I managed to walk home through liquefaction, which I couldn't believe I was actually seeing in real life and a couple of flooded streets. It was decking scarey being knee deep in water and experiencing an aftershock! And as I was walking up my street I saw Cath standing in the dining room window and I just completely lost my shit, and got a bit hysterical.
We had no power and just some glasses and pretty teacups broken. Cath and I went into survival mode and set up camp in the lounge with our shoes on and our go bags ready. We were listening to the radio and preparing ourselves for a night without power but fortunately it came on around 10ish so we only had to spend an hour in the dark, thank goodness. We slept with the kitchen light on, not that we did much sleeping although Cath is snore her way through a couple of big aftershocks, which was amusing. And we have set up our "alternative toilet system" which is also amusing, in a I-Can't-Believe-I-Am-Actually-Doing-This kind of way! Also because Cath and I are sharing the pull out couch there has been many a cry of "Are you doing that?" when there is an aftershock!
I am so, so, so incredibley grateful that everyone is safe and okay I can't wait to give everyone a huge hug! I feel so sorry for the people who have lost someone or are still waiting to hear. And to all the rescue workers who are doing an incredible job in the difficult circumstances.
This one has been so much worse than September. The city won't be able to bounce back as quickly, it's going to take ages. Like after the 7.1 I was back a work the next week and now I don't think I have a job and I won't be going back to course for the forseeable futre but everyone is in the same boat and we will pull through,hopefully. This time round tho my heart doesn't start to beat wildly after each aftershock, it's only done it once which is nice but surprising.
Right, I'm off to attempt a little sleepys and hopefully I won't be interupted rudely!
Stay safe!