Media Release 18 November 2010

The big test for Metlifecare Merivale

On September 4 2010, Metlifecare Merivale village in Christchurch with the whole city experienced an incredibly demanding safety and emergency check. The city was hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

As the village of over 70 residents rocked around in darkness at 4.30am, Christchurch's power, water, sewerage, gas, streetlights and phone switched off. For some in Christchurch City, it was to be days and weeks, even months before services came on again.

Many of the inner city's glorious brick or masonry buildings were instantly demolished or damaged beyond repair. Chimneys and walls fell. A quiet and stillness descended over a shocked Christchurch.

At Metlifecare Merivale , the emergency plan swung promptly into action. Emergency lighting came on in corridors, as it was meant to. The automatic electric doors in the village immediately opened to the cool morning air, as they should have, allowing unimpeded access.

Staff immediately located civil defence emergency buckets containing torches and other supplies and began looking after the residents in their homes. The security staff drove around the village, with the headlights turned up, checking on the structural integrity of all the village and residents' safety. All buildings were intact and all residents were safe. Crockery and ornaments had fallen and no-one was injured.

Within minutes of the quake, Raylene McMeekan, the village manager and Helen Crooks-Scarf, the clinical team leader were in their cars, driving towards the village through damaged streets without street lighting.

When they got there, they found a village in shock, but calm and collected. In two communal lounges, residents (some of whom had been through the Napier earthquake in 1931) were gathered, having a cup of tea.

In the apartments and villas, staff were moving around checking on residents - and a few residents had formed themselves into a group and were checking on their neighbours' wellbeing.

Residents, Diana and Andrew Robinson said "It was so wonderful at first light hearing Raylene's voice outside, talking with other residents. Raylene even went to try and lift up our long case clock, which was screwed to the wall but was smashed on the ground. We wouldn't let her of course!"

"Raylene was going all round the village to make sure everyone was alright. It was really wonderful for us all. Also, the security men that drove around with their lights on in the pitch dark were a great comfort to us all We love it here!"

Despite the lack of electricity, hot meals and drinks were still able to be provided. "I realised after the quake how lucky we were to be in the village," said Margaret Luff.

"We first of all formed a crowd of about ten and later retired to a small lounge and had a cup of tea. We thought the cook was great and we didn't miss out on meals. After seeing the damage that was done in the inner city, we were amazed."

The days following the earthquake have allowed village residents to reflect on their good fortune at Metlifecare Merivale and its tight, caring community. "I thought the staff were wonderful," said resident Eileen Hunter. "They more or less told us what to do. On the following morning when the staff came in, they brought their daughters. They were all asking if they could help pick up things for us. I had a lovely cup of soup and crusty bread for lunch, even when the electricity was not on yet."

Raylene has reviewed the systems in place with her staff teams. Apart from minor changes the emergency plan worked like clockwork. "We learnt we have a robust system in place," she comments. "We realised a great thing about living in a retirement village like ours is that there is a clinical team on site. Had there been any minor injuries, there would have been little need to go to the emergency department at hospital. Treatment is available here."

No one at Metlifecare ever wants to experience a quake like Christchurch's again. Yet this once-in-a-lifetime event was an ultimate test for us. Raylene has the last word: "All of us now know, we can feel safe here."

Ends

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