UPDATE 25 Feb 1.15pm: Please pass these offers for support to anyone who may need it.

This first offer is for the earthquake emergency in Christchurch and also for the months to come as people need to have a break from the situation:

I feel for your situation and would like to help by offering accommodation, in Otaki, especially for elderly or disabled people. I, myself, have a disability and so am fully set up for people using wheelchairs.

I have a 2 bedroom home; fully wheelchair-friendly, peaceful outlook, near the beach. I can have 1 stay in spare room and 1 or 2 on the fold-out couch. The house is open-plan, so beds and mattresses can be borrowed and people can sleep on the floor (possibly 6-8). If a family or group wish to stay i will l leave them and stay in Wellington, in respite care. (In this case there will be another queen-size bed).

If you or someone you know would like to stay for up to 1 week, contact me. Tel (06) 364 7176 or viv.klaassen@paradise.net.nz

warm regards, Viv

Someone else has a ramp, power, water, and an accessible bathroom so if someone is desperate for a shower or to charge something or even use the internet and is in the Burnside area (or can get there), their family would be quite willing to help.

A further offer of spare room in a house with a wheelchair assessible bathroom and kitchen has been sent to me.

Please contact me for more info.

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UPDATE 24 Feb 8.30pm: IHC CEO Ralph Jones has said in a release on the organisation's website:

...four of IDEA Services 33 houses are unsafe and services users have been moved out.  Nine people have moved back with their family, three have been relocated to IDEA Services in Ashburton and two have moved to IDEA Services in Kaikoura. One person in supported living has been moved into residential services.  We have been unable to make contact with 16 people in supported living and IDEA Services continues to try to locate them.  22 houses have no access to mains water, but do have bottled water.

We have 2 Contract Board Service Users unaccounted for and these were reported to the Red Cross missing persons line late yesterday. 

The CCS Disability Action website showed no information.

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As the impact of the Christchurch earthquake begins to show itself, the extra stress for people and families who experience disability is beginning to show.

Disability organisations are looking for people to travel to Christchurch assist in the support of "whanau haua" (disabled people and their families). Kaupapa Maori advocacy organisation Te Roopu Waiora says they are working with Needs Assessment Agency Taikura Trust to find funds, accommodation and wages to send additional support workers.

"If you know of anyone that is willing to go to Christchurch and is experienced in providing care to people with disabilities," says Kaiwhakahaere Tania Kingi, "please contact us here at Te Roopu Waiora with their details. Once we know who can go, we can finalise the process with Taikura Trust."

Family members and paid workers are no doubt needing relief from addition support need on top of their own stress and trauma.

Surviving a disaster is unimaginable. I'm aware of my own vulnerability. Someone who uses a wheelchair left this account on my Facebook page today:

I had just got home from uni and was home alone, at my desk during the quake which was very scary as I've been with people for all the other ones. Books started falling from the shelf next to my desk but fortunately I wasn't hit by any and was able to move myself in my w/c to the other side of the room and get under the doorframe. Didn't have my cell on me - was still in my bag by my desk - so I decided I better get it, and then another big aftershock struck. Got a bit upset and panicked but felt better after getting in touch with family who came home soon after. Only minimal damage to house and have power and water, so feeling very lucky.

After September I was going to get a survival kit. I didn't. I think I might.

Please email Tania Kingi or call Te Roopu Waiora: 09 277 4513 or Taikura Trust: 0800 TAIKURA or 0800 824 5872 if you can help our disabled brothers and sisters in Christchurch.

(photo: nzherald.co.nz)