Christchurch Earthquake and Us

Thanks for all the e-mails of concern. We are fine! Christchurch is about 350 miles from us, as the crow flies. We passed through that airport Saturday on our way home from traveling with Freddie and Marji. They continued on for another week of vacation in NZ. Unfortunately, they arrived in Christchurch by rental car yesterday maybe an hour before the quake. Really rotten luck for them. They are supposed to fly home Thursday to Knoxville from Christchurch. They are also fine. They are in a small boutique hotel a few blocks out of the city center. We have been texting with them and trying to help them get out of Christchurch. Phone calls don't go through, plus the officials ask people to text rather than call. They were without power but it was restored last night. The Christchurch airport was closed yesterday but they have announced reopening at 8:00 am this morning (It's 7:41 am as I type this, Wednesday morning). Freddie and Marji plan to camp out there and get on a flight to anywhere, eventually making their way to Auckland for their flight to LAX. Driving out of town in their rental car to another city is a possibility, but roads are heavily damaged so don't know if they could get anywhere.

Our prayers are with the people of Christchurch. It's on the TV nonstop here and looks as if the city (at least the downtown area) is destroyed. Reminds me of New Orleans and Katrina.