Getting hit by any natural disaster is never easy – especially if it is on a scale as huge as the Saturday earthquake that hit the Canterbury area. Yet what make life after an earthquake easier are an out pour of government support and some tidbit of good news.

Earlier, Education Minister Anne Tolley said that schools and early childhood education centers within the Waimakariri, Selwyn, and Christchurch will be closed for the rest of the week while the individual boards of trustees look at the safety of the public buildings hit by the earthquake. Civil Defence Emergency Management regional controller John Talbot gave a bit of good news later in the day, though: after passing safety checks, Christchurch schools may reopen even before the end of the week. As for schools around the Selwyn and Waimakariri districts, they may reopen as soon as tomorrow.

Schools may contact the individual schools to confirm on further details. Education Ministry will make sure hazardous areas will be cordoned off and clean water will be supplied before resuming classes. The Ministry will also attend to the children’s mental being by providing advice on how to coping with emotional difficulties.

The good news does not end there. Prime Minister John Key and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett just announced a subsidy for small businesses that were forced to shut down due to the earthquake. A total of $15 million has been set aside to ensure eligible small businesses $350 per week per worker while the business is trying to rebuild.

Any company with 20 or less workers can apply for the wage subsidy starting Thursday. The money, which will be paid in advanced of four weeks, can be release after 24hours. Any small business with insurance that covers loss of earnings, though, is expected to make use of the insurance first before applying for a subsidy.

If a business is still not operational after four weeks, the owner can re-apply for a subsidy. At least 5,000 businesses and 77,000 employees are eligible for the said wage subsidy and may cost the government millions of dollars.

Canterbury will also get a comprehensive government-funded recovery package and it will be announced as the week ends, according to Mayor Bob Parker. Prime Minster Key says money is not the main concern: Christchurch people are. Though the economy will suffer in the short-term with all the necessary rebuild, it will gain from it in the long run.