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We really appreciate your kind thoughts. People are feeling lost, broken and exhausted. I saw a photo of a poor horse which had somehow been swept up by floods onto the roof of a house. That bewildered creature died, sadly. Some sights are beyond belief. It is the most catastrophic event we've endured. Mercifully, the cyclone is moving away from the country, with one final nasty flick of its tail. Visions of hell.

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Feb 15, 2023
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It could be even worse! It's a relief we don't have bears snakes or crocodiles here. By Friday Gabrielle should be gone.

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Feb 15, 2023
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Janet - there are so many terrible things happening in the world, perhaps the news media has moved on to the next calamity. I live where Gabrielle has bid us farewell, but there are other regions in the North Island of Aotearoa, which are completely cut off. They are encircled by flooding of rivers, where roads have been destroyed, or erosion and slips have blocked access, and bridges have been destroyed by floods. These regions currently have no electricity, because a major power sub station was under water . Food and water is running short, and ironically, they are being urged to conserve water. Many have their homes collapsed by land slips, and are in evacuation centres with their pets. With no power, there is no internet, or cell phone, so this makes it more difficult. ATM (money) machines are out of action, so supermarkets are asking for cash, which people don't carry much now. It is only through the old fashioned radio stations, that these people are getting vital information from civil defense. Generators are being sourced. People are trying to charge up their cell phones, sitting in their cars. Elon Musk's new baby a "Satellite" phone is selling out fast. (I gather it is more like a walkie-talkie.) Water supplies are being shipped in, helicopters doing drops. A local newspaper printed out hundreds of copies of a paper edition, so it could be distributed by hand to get info out to people. The first responders are heroes, and people are resourceful, in the face of all it will take to recover. There are 4 deaths now, and some people have lost everything. This is my brief excursion into journalism! - I hope you now have a clearer picture.

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Thank you for this detailed update Wing. And to Janet for continuing this conversation. I was grateful for your insights into the tragedy. We get a minute or two on the news but that barely scratches the surface of the wounds your country has suffered. I hope relief gets to everyone as quickly as possible. I know people will say the storm is over but the clean-up and restoration of vital resources will be going on for a long time. By then, the news outside your nation will have moved on to the next horror. But my thoughts are with you, Wing, and your loved ones. Let us know how it's going over the next weeks and months. Take good care.

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Thank you Jim. I hate to be using Patti's forum for the dispersal of such news, but maybe she will glean some fodder for her writing for the poem "Green"! I have been heartened to see a video of a herd of cows swimming to safety as the farmer called to them. We had a 6.1 magnitude earthquake last night too. You heard it first here! Arohanui.

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Ka aroha hoki, Wing x and all brothers and sisters affected around the world

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Yikes. I hope the earthquake didn't cause any more damage. I don't think Patti minds. It's all about sharing. Thanks for the image of the cows. Quite amazing. Be safe.

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All's good. Princess Anne From UK Royal family is visiting NZ for a few days. She's having an adventurous time. Clean up and recovery is underway, with amazing stories of survival coming to light. Thanks to all for your kind thoughts.

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