Evacuation Day

An unexpected call from daughter "flying"saying she was at Woodend school where the Air Force helicopters were landing with evacuees from Kaikoura. She said she was coming to get me and be ready. The Air.Force and ground staff were doing a great job helping the evacuees. It seemed as though they were being taken by private cars into Christchurch where many of them would have had planes to catch. They have been through a lot with the earthquake and aftershocks but some will have missed out on doing the touristy things that Kaikoura is famous for. Helicopters are the only way to get in and out of Kaikoura at the moment and for the approx. 2500 permanent residents it is going to be a real trial for them until roads open again which could be quite a while. A lovely warm day here today but it is supposed to be going to deteriorate again. Such is spring.