The University of Canterbury Dept. of Chemistry has weathered the Canterbury Earthquake of September 4, 2010 very well due to a combination of good luck, good planning and dedicated effort. We owe a great deal to university Emergency Response Team and Facilities Management Personnel. The overall emergency preparedness of the university was tested to a degree far beyond anything else in its history and shown to be well up to scratch. A strong cooperative relationship between the pan-campus controlling body and the departmental response teams greatly facilitated our efforts. Information and assistance was provided promptly, as and when we needed it without unnecessary bureaucratic overheads. At the departmental level we are indebted to the technical staff who implemented the invaluable pre-quake mitigation measures and carried the majority of the post-quake clean-up workload. These people put aside their personal concerns and anxieties at a time when magnitude-5 aftershocks were still a regular occurrence.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to R&R Sport on the corner of Colombo and Tuam Streets. Most of the side wall has crumbled, the bricks spilling onto the footpath below. Plywood and plastic sheeting has been used to weather proof the building. Wire fencing and road cones have been placed around the building as a cordon. A cherry picker is parked on the footpath in between the building and the fence.
Timber Mill being condemed.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Demolition underway on the Manchester Courts Building".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Demolition underway on the Manchester Courts Building".
A photograph of an excavator demolishing a building on Victoria Street.
A photograph of an excavator demolishing a building on Victoria Street.
A photograph of an excavator demolishing a building on Victoria Street.
A photograph of an excavator demolishing a building on Victoria Street.
Tommy discusses future building procedures in response to the Christchurch earthquake.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Demolition underway on the Manchester Courts Building".
Bill Davison from Biological Sciences checks equipment in the Rutherford building.
The September earthquake caused little damage to the NZi3 Building.
John Barton from Psychology checks a Geography building office for damage.
Cracks along a window on a building in the central city.
Damage to buildings on Victoria Street, near the Bealey Avenue intersection.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "R.G. Bell building in Charles Street".
The September earthquake caused little damage to the NZi3 Building.
The September earthquake caused little damage to the NZi3 Building.
The September earthquake caused little damage to the NZi3 Building.
The September earthquake caused little damage to the NZi3 Building.
The September earthquake caused little damage to the NZi3 Building.
The September earthquake caused little damage to the NZi3 Building.
Bill Davison from Biological Sciences checks equipment in the Rutherford building.
Wendy Lawson from Psychology checks a Geography building office for damage.
Wendy Lawson from Psychology checks a Geography building office for damage.
Reboot Cafe in the Erskine building reopens for coffee and cake.
Footpath cordoned off due to damage to buildings on Riccarton Road.
The food court and Mix Cafe area in the USCA building.
Cracks along a facade in a building in the city centre.