Talked to my sis in Christchurch, NZ

[frogmarch]

She said parts of the city still look like a war zone and that aftershocks are still coming at least a couple times an hour. She said some of them are strong enough to rock the building her apartment is in. Twice while we were talking, she had to run outside because the walls were shaking and dishes were falling out of her cupboards.

I asked her what she thought of Pat Robertson saying he thought God was mad at Jesus and was taking it out on Christchurch because the name of the city means Jesus's church. My sister said that if Pat was right, she sure wished Jesus would turn himself in, so that she and her cat could get a little peace and quiet.

She said she and her friends in Christchurch are just glad there was no tsunami.

[Suich]

1. Glad she's ok, frogmarch!

The aftershocks can be nerve-wracking!

:)

[frogmarch]

2. Thanks! She said her kitty is

more frightened than she is, poor thing. My sis and her husband are marine biologists and own a farm near the ocean. When he's away she lives in their apartment in the city. He was in China when the quake hit. She said he always misses out on all the excitement. My baby sister takes everything in stride, but I worry about her sometimes!

[laylah]

3. Happy to hear

she and kitty are faring well.

Jenn

[frogmarch]

6. Thank you. :-)

[Kali]

4. what happened? earthquake today? wow

[frogmarch]

7. The quake hit about a week ago.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11183685

It's hard for me to imagine what it must be like living with aftershocks every half hour or so. Pretty unnerving, I'd say!

[kentauros]

5. Glad to hear she's okay!

How's the structural integrity of her apartment building doing? Sounds like it was built with earthquakes in mind.

My girlfriend (on again, off again long-distance relationship) also lives in Christchurch and her cat isn't doing well with the aftershocks either. She says they dive under their table when they hit. I don't think she's gone looking around much, just talking to neighbors and those at the two places where she works or volunteers.

She mentioned that it's given her a "horrible feeling of uncertainty." I've gone through Cat-3 hurricanes, but at least they're over in hours. I don't know how people in earthquake zones deal with them and the after-effects. I can certainly understand that constant uncertainty...

[frogmarch]

8. My sister said her apartment building

is beautiful to look at but as many NZ buildings are, it's poorly constructed. I've urged her to go somewhere safer, but she said most of the safer apartments that had been available are now taken. The farm she and her husband own suffered roof and chimney damage from the quake, but the barn is intact, and she said she may take kitty and live there for a while.

I hope your girlfriend and her cat will continue to be safe. Diving under a table sounds like a good idea! How stressful it must be for everyone, including animals.

"Horrible feeling of uncertainty" seems to describe well what people there must be feeling. My sister said she's had water and sewer problems ever since the quake, and she's lost electrical power at times too. I've never had to endure any natural disasters, so the thought of earthquakes and hurricanes freaks me out!

[kentauros]

9. Hurricane Ike freaked me out for hours,

due to the severity of the wind (not to mention the sound!) This apartment was lucky with regards to not losing electricity for long, but the surrounding neighborhood was without for three weeks! :o

I hope your sister and her husband stay warm in their barn (if they go there) as it's late winter in NZ right now ;)

I had read about the sewers being damaged and authorities telling people not to use their toilets. It's gotta be a real infrastructure nightmare right now. I hope they can get basic services back online fast.