something that is preventable. From now on we need to shelter in tents and under tarpaulins until such time as it is safe to use buildings again.” Gavin concludes his opening address.
There are murmurs of agreement from the crowd and most people nod their heads in affirmation, a few look disgruntled and annoyed, but the majority can see the sense in this statement.
“Much as I hate to open with negatives, folks, we do need to get this point across to everyone and do it now. It is just not safe for us to be inside at this time. I do know those of you who are still living in your homes won’t want to move out before we leave, but I strongly advise you to do just that. There is plenty of room on the hill where the camp site has been set up and at least if the tents collapse you will not be seriously injured.” Gavin continues to try to persuade the reluctant members of the community to move to safer accommodation. “For those of you who will be moving up I can offer assistance from teams to transport your essentials up the hill. Tents and tarpaulins will be erected for those of you unable to do so yourselves. Come and see either Rhys or myself after the meeting and we will organise the help for you.” Gavin finishes, looks around the crowd and smiles gently in an attempt to soften the bad news.
“I am going to hand over to Rhys now so that he can work his way through the supplies we will require for the journey.” Gavin says as he turns to Rhys.
Rhys hands Caren to me and steps forward to face the crowd. “As you know folks I have not had a lot of time to work on the lists today, but was able to do a lot of thinking in the hours before the earthquake. We are not going to be able to take much along that is going to be perishable unless we can find a way to preserve it safely.” Rhys opens as he looks around the gathering. “If anyone knows of a way of preserving fresh food for the journey then please come and talk to me later. We are going to need to find all the long life products and dried products we can carry on the trucks. Water is going to be a priority too.” Rhys continues with a long list of essential food items to be gathered up and packed aboard the trucks we are taking with us. “We will also require a lot of other equipment so that we are able to build new homes and new lives and that is the list I am working on currently. Ideas for this will be gladly accepted, but remember that where ever we end up there may be no electricity, so power tools will not work, meaning that we will have to use and carry more hand tools. The generators will be only able to be used for essential purposes as fuel for them will be limited.” Rhys tells the gathered crowd and holds them with rapt attention as he lists the items we will need to start our new lives and sets the ground rules for the use of certain things.
We progress through the meeting slowly with many pauses for questions between each committee members run down on their area of responsibility. Soon it is my turn to get up and tell the group what I have been planning over the last twenty four hours.
“As you know folks I’ve been busy today with the hospital collapse, but that has not stopped me thinking this situation through and planning some of our transport requirements.” I start, my gaze going around the group. “What I am going to need is a list of everyone and their ages, family members. If they are able to drive and what type of vehicle?”
“This will mean that I am able to work out how many drivers we have, how many vehicles we will need and who will be driving those vehicles.” I state. “I would like to ask Dennis and Carmel to help out with the lists as this is where we work out who will travel on what type of transport. If you can all put your names down on the lists then we will know who will be doing what.” I state. “My primary concern is for those children who have lost their families and for the elderly who may not feel able
There are murmurs of agreement from the crowd and most people nod their heads in affirmation, a few look disgruntled and annoyed, but the majority can see the sense in this statement.
“Much as I hate to open with negatives, folks, we do need to get this point across to everyone and do it now. It is just not safe for us to be inside at this time. I do know those of you who are still living in your homes won’t want to move out before we leave, but I strongly advise you to do just that. There is plenty of room on the hill where the camp site has been set up and at least if the tents collapse you will not be seriously injured.” Gavin continues to try to persuade the reluctant members of the community to move to safer accommodation. “For those of you who will be moving up I can offer assistance from teams to transport your essentials up the hill. Tents and tarpaulins will be erected for those of you unable to do so yourselves. Come and see either Rhys or myself after the meeting and we will organise the help for you.” Gavin finishes, looks around the crowd and smiles gently in an attempt to soften the bad news.
“I am going to hand over to Rhys now so that he can work his way through the supplies we will require for the journey.” Gavin says as he turns to Rhys.
Rhys hands Caren to me and steps forward to face the crowd. “As you know folks I have not had a lot of time to work on the lists today, but was able to do a lot of thinking in the hours before the earthquake. We are not going to be able to take much along that is going to be perishable unless we can find a way to preserve it safely.” Rhys opens as he looks around the gathering. “If anyone knows of a way of preserving fresh food for the journey then please come and talk to me later. We are going to need to find all the long life products and dried products we can carry on the trucks. Water is going to be a priority too.” Rhys continues with a long list of essential food items to be gathered up and packed aboard the trucks we are taking with us. “We will also require a lot of other equipment so that we are able to build new homes and new lives and that is the list I am working on currently. Ideas for this will be gladly accepted, but remember that where ever we end up there may be no electricity, so power tools will not work, meaning that we will have to use and carry more hand tools. The generators will be only able to be used for essential purposes as fuel for them will be limited.” Rhys tells the gathered crowd and holds them with rapt attention as he lists the items we will need to start our new lives and sets the ground rules for the use of certain things.
We progress through the meeting slowly with many pauses for questions between each committee members run down on their area of responsibility. Soon it is my turn to get up and tell the group what I have been planning over the last twenty four hours.
“As you know folks I’ve been busy today with the hospital collapse, but that has not stopped me thinking this situation through and planning some of our transport requirements.” I start, my gaze going around the group. “What I am going to need is a list of everyone and their ages, family members. If they are able to drive and what type of vehicle?”
“This will mean that I am able to work out how many drivers we have, how many vehicles we will need and who will be driving those vehicles.” I state. “I would like to ask Dennis and Carmel to help out with the lists as this is where we work out who will travel on what type of transport. If you can all put your names down on the lists then we will know who will be doing what.” I state. “My primary concern is for those children who have lost their families and for the elderly who may not feel able
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