Monday 29 October 2012

The 10 questions


 The 10 questions 

1.) What is the name of your natural disaster?

The Napier earthquake or also known as the Hawkes Bay earthquake.



      2.) When did your natural disaster happen?

                      At 10:47 am on the 3rd of February 1931





3.) What happened?


             At 10:47 am on the 3rd of February 1931 a magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit the Hawkes bay then was followed closely by a second quake that rocked the Hawkes bay for almost 3
Minutes. Dust rose in clouds from shattered buildings and giant cracks appeared in the roads of Napier and Hastings. Panicking people went to the beaches where they thought it was safe but the water in the bay receded, and many thought a tsunami was on the way but it wasn't. 
Attempts to rescue the trapped and injured began almost at once. The local people were helped by sailors from the HMS Veronica.
The fires started in three chemist shops where gas jets were kept burning to melt the wax used to seal prescriptions. The shops also had a lot of flammable materials including different types of oil.Napier burned for 36 hours before the fires finally died out. Almost 200 buildings were destroyed in Hastings. Most of the deaths were in a department store, but many also died in the public library.256 or 258 people died in this
Horrific disaster.


    


      4.) Who was affected?


      The citizens of the Hawkes bay and the crew of the HMS veronica



The HMS Veronica
            

5.) What effect did this disaster have on the land?


 4 hectares of Napier’s buildings collapsed into rubble, On the top of  Napier hill ,the nurse’s home at the Public Hospital crumbled away .giant gaps appeared in the road eating cars. Rivers changed  as the land around Napier rose 2 metres lifting land .The Ahuriri Lagoon, which was once a popular area for sailing, was completely drained this is where the  Napier Airport is now sitting.

The Napier airport (were the the Ahuriri lagoon used to stand)



6.) what were the long term and short terms?

    The long term effects on the Napier landscape was massive. The whole area tilted upwards. 2230 hectares were raised to sea level. Most buildings in Napier and some in Hastings were destroyed.
Architects were brought to Napier to plan a new city with a new look,And art Deco style appeared. Napier's brand new look was with  rows of palm trees and the Norfolk Island pine.Most of  Napier's cbd had reopened by late 1932 and the city had a "New Napier" celebration in January 1933.But by 1938 Napier was on the brink of bankruptcy but thanks to the labour government of the day and the spirit of Napier citizens, Napier was saved

The short term effects on Napier were catastrophic nearly all buildings in the cbd of Napier and Hastings were levelled.The Dominion noted that "Napier as a town has been wiped off the map". the death toll included 161 people in Napier, 93 in Hastings, and two in Wairoa.Thousands more were injured,and over 400 hospitalised.There were about 155 aftershocks in the 24 hours after the 7.9 quake. Over the next two weeks, there was 550 aftershocks.








7.)What happened to get life back to normal,Who helped?

Now retired Napier architect Guy Natusch was 10 when the 7.9 earthquake hit Napier 
His father Rene,and uncles Aleck and Stanley of Natusch and Sons architects were among those who designed the art Deco and modernist buildings for which the city is now famous for.

And the labour government of the day.




8.) How did this natural disaster happen,What is the process of this natural disasters?


An earthquake is caused by 2 tectonic plates rubbing against each another one is going up and the other one is going down in Napier's case it was Australian and Pacific plates that run right though New Zealand.As the plates rub it makes fiction. under water were the earthquake starts is called a hypocenter.
and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicentre.

Depending on the size of the main shock, aftershocks can continue for weeks, months, and even years after the main shock!




9.) How can we be prepared for another disaster like this?

Water - at least three litres per person per day for three days.DON'T USE MILK CONTAINERS FOR STORING WATER!
Ensure there is an alternative cooking source available such as a BBQ or camp cooker.
Food - at least three days' supply. Include canned and dried goods, DO NOT STORE FRESH FOOD!
Keep essential utensils such as a can opener and a fire lighter on hand.
Every household member will need warm waterproof clothing, sturdy shoes,spare clothes and an emergency blanket.
Keep important family documents that you might need together and safe in a readily accessible place.
Medications if you need it and a first aid kit.
Baby supplies if you have a baby.
Soap, wet wipes, toilet paper.
At least one torch.
A wireless radio.
A notebook and pen would be a good idea.
Spare batteries.





10.)  
Other information


256 or 258?
The official death toll of the Hawke's Bay earthquake is 256. But there are 258 names on the memorial, and this unofficial number is likely to be correct.