Census Cancelled — Remembering February 22, 2011

Recently, I sent out a request for others to share their memories of the Christchurch earthquakes that occurred five years ago. To my pleasant surprise, some have come forward with stories so moving that I felt it was important to share them with the world. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be sharing some of the stories sent to me about that day as well as sharing a few of my own. The February 2011 quake changed our lives forever, but has made the city of Christchurch a stronger community.

Michael Mohr was working as a census worker in Auckland when the February quake struck. Needless to say, the New Zealand government cancelled all activities for the 2011 Census. Here is what he had to say about that day.

When the February quake struck, I was canvassing a suburb in Auckland as part of the 2011 Census.  In one of the houses was a young mother who was quite distressed, trying to keep her two children entertained and away from the TV in living room.  The TV was providing coverage of the devastation.  Her husband was away on a business trip to Christchurch and was possibly in the area where the heaviest damage occurred.  Since Christchurch was data central for the census, all further collection activity was cancelled.  I went back to the property a few months later.  He survived, despite the loss of his legs.