THERE's something very primitive about emerging from our dens once the storm has passed. We all take stock of our surroundings, assess the damage, and weigh up what needs to be done.
For most of us, that involves a quick check to make sure the kowhai tree is still standing and the recycling bin hasn't taken flight. Then we drive to work, cruising along open roads and looking around, thinking: that wasn't so bad. However, the reason we were able to stay dry during the night, cook our toast this morning, and drive our cars to work on open roads, is due to what has to be heroic efforts of contractors, professional rescue services, police and volunteers.
I know I had an "oh, crap" moment when the power went off on Wednesday night in Featherston, half-way through heating my mince on toast, but I was warm and knew someone from Powerco would be on the case. I didn't envy them. Yesterday, I talked to Carterton fire station, where a fireman of 35 years' experience, Wayne Robinson, said it was the worst winds he'd ever experienced.
And yet he and his team of volunteers rotated throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning to answer a growing backlog of calls. That same night, I drove up Upper Plains Rd, after a report of deer escaping. The conditions were so bad I don't think I could have contemplated getting out of the car.
As we all catch our breath after the battering we've been given, I think if anyone stepped up to help you that night, be it fire crew, ambulance, police or contractors, you definitely need to give thanks to them for the bravery of stepping out into that storm and knuckling down to get the job done.
