Emergency Response

The Emergency Operating Centre was set up in the Christchurch Art Gallery and operated from there for seven months.

Emergency services and the military from all over New Zealand were quickly assembled and arrived to help with both people and equipment. Police and Search and Rescue teams also arrived quickly from Australia, with other international Search and Rescue teams including Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom and Taiwan arriving not long after. Latimer Square became the temporary home for the search and rescue teams.

USAR base

Camp Hollywood, USAR Camp, Latimer Square

Entrance to USAR Camp Hollywood in Latimer Square with notice board, flag at half-mast and tents.

USAR Camp, Latimer Square

Groups of emergency personnel in red and green overalls from various agencies in USAR camp, Latimer Square. Some appear to be from Civil Defence and New Zealand Red Cross agencies.

USAR Camp, Latimer Square

4WD Emergency Team Transport tent on corner of Worcester Street and Latimer Square. Damaged building in background.

USAR Camp, Latimer Square

Gen-i telecom Emergency Connection Unit truck, Hire pool lighting arrangements and port-a-loos at the USAR camp, Latimer Square.

USAR Camp, Latimer Square

Close detail of notice board for USA-2 (County of Los Angeles Fire Department) area in USAR camp, Latimer Square.

USAR Camp, Latimer Square

Japan Disaster Relief team in USAR camp, Latimer Square. Emergency personnel and equipment.

USAR Camp, Latimer Square

Detail of signage at entrance of Australian USAR camp area in Latimer Square. Wording on sign: ‘Authorised entry only. Non USAR personnel please report to command tent before entry.’

USAR Camp, Latimer Square

Banner displayed on side of tent in USAR camp in Latimer Square. Banner wording: ‘USAID from the American People. Los Angeles County Fire Department.’

In addition to search and rescue, those that arrived in Christchurch provided medical assistance, carried out damage assessments, stabilised or demolished precarious property, provided security and delivered food and water.

Avonview Retirement Village and Resthome

Avonview on Locksley Ave was damaged by the earthquakes and alternative accommodation had to be found for the residents. It has since been demolished.

Not just portaloos!

In the months following the 2011 earthquakes, sewage & drainage were entirely non-functional in most of the Residental Red Zone, so residents were provided with a number of.... alternative options!

Desalination Plant

Civil Defence at the Art Gallery

Civil Defence headquarters was established at the Christchurch Art Gallery following the Christchurch earthquakes.

Saturday 5th March 2011

Damage from September 4 Earthquake

Earthquake housing, Linwood Park

Emergency management staff returning to the office.

Emergency management staff returning to the office after inspecting buildings. Walking past the collapsed Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings on Durham Street.

Catering at the Temporary Emergency Management Centre

Catering staff at the Temporary Emergency Management Centre at the Christchurch Art Gallery.

Staff working in the Temporary Emergency Management Centre

Staff working in the foyer of the Temporary Emergency Management Centre at the Christchurch Art Gallery.

Emergency management staff in the Christchurch Art Gallery

Emergency management personnel in the Operations Centre at the Christchurch Art Gallery Civil Defence HQ after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.

Essential services in several areas were so badly damaged that repairs took weeks. Eventually portaloos and chemical toilets were delivered in neighbourhoods that needed them and a desalination plant was set up in New Brighton by army engineers. This could produce 2000 litres of fresh water an hour. Badly hit areas were warned that it could be weeks before power could be restored.