Like most people I spent last evening watching back to back earthquake coverage. Our heart goes out to the people in the city.
Last night my instinctive reaction was to buy one of the early flights today and go down and help. But it’s clear that just now there’s no need for knee jerk heroics or reactions. At 12.51 yesterday as the earthquake hit, thousands of people and organisations immediately swung into action and the response continues.
Each and every one of them is a true hero. Cantabrians and those visiting the region are in our minds, and if you’re like me, concern for their situation is mixed with sheer awe at the way they are dealing with this unimaginable event.
Since I visited New Orleans post-Katrina (2005), it has been clear to me that in a major civil defence emergency, if you can you need to help yourself, then emergency services will be able to help those in serious need and those without support.
Canterbury knows this, and there will be some who owe their lives to the swift action of individuals during yesterday’s events. Support is coming from everywhere and everyone, yet it appears as though it is one well oiled machine albeit with many different components.
My sense of this is entirely through the news I’ve been watching. The efforts of spokespeople from the many agencies and organisations interviewed during hours of coverage is, I think, a reflection of the on-the-ground response. They are fantastic people and professionals doing what needs to be done, to save lives, and protect people from further trauma and discomfort.
These spokespeople seem to instinctively know this was another important part of the job that required complete focus, no room for error or nerves. Each person gave vital information that was reassuring and realistic. Even when some journalists pressed for issues around response times and under-resourcing, the spokespersons confidently pushed back and reassured people that they were there to help as required.
While it’s not possible to single out one group or person, I do think the journalists who reported live from Christchurch yesterday deserve a special mention. They had just experienced the earthquake and some possibly had come out of damaged buildings. Others still have colleagues missing or possibly deceased. But they put their own personal trauma aside to take the lead on getting the story and important information out to people. Even while still trying to confirm where their own family and friends were, they knew how important it was to get the news out more widely.
This sensitive but pragmatic response was evident in the response from the Orion spokesperson. Based on their past experiences, whether from earthquakes or snow-storms, he said they had learnt to not immediately rush in and throw everything at fixing what first appears the most obvious issue (I paraphrase). Instead sit back and get a view of the big picture, and then you will know where to prioritise your resources.
The entire team at Network PR is providing support needed to client organisations, and will be glad to help any other companies in the affected region who would benefit from our experience and support.
They used to speak of the isolation of far North Queensland. No more I expect. Over the past 24 to 36 hours our connectivity has once again been proven, with literally hundreds of people sharing personal accounts of their pre, intra and post-cyclone experiences. Even with widespread power outages, we have countless voice, picture and video accounts.