Fire updates

How come in this day of instant and constant communication the powers that be were unable to communicate with the Christchurch houseowners evacuated by the fire ? Surely it must have been possible for two people to ride around the affected area on a motorbike, suitably supervised, and taken photos of every house in the affected area so the owners could determine where they stood. Or for that matter they could have been ‘‘riding pillion’’ in an aircraft taking photos from the air while it went about its more important business. From the air 10 photos probably would have been enough to discern the level of any damage, if any. Geoff Orchard, Ohaupo