I know that MSF has ready-to-go medical relief packages that are deployed near immediately in the aftermath of disaster. I can’t imagine that there aren’t the emergency supplies that you describe, @arabrab but you’re right, I never seem to see them.
I remember the first night they were interviewing someone that said what they needed, more than anything, was blankets.
@Consolation – any word on your HS classmate?
@notelling, no. Not so far.
just read that the Nepalese Army has precisely ONE large helicopter.
So sorry. Hoping that you hear positive news soon.
@musicamusica – Thinking of your profile picture right now. The woman who imports those signs from Nepal – Michelle Page – is a friend of a friend. She and her husband are apparently missing in Nepal.
To tell the truth, this is someone whom I’ve known since 6th grade, and who was the personification of a Mean Girl. Nevertheless, I find myself very concerned. I’ve read that the residential areas of the city are generally in fairly good shape. I hope they are okay.
Oh no!! I knew that the signs were from Nepal! I will keep your friends in my thoughts. Horrific.
Omg, it is such a small world. Just had a dinner with a friend who knows a professional guide who works with groups in that area. No word if the person is ok.
Prayers for all affected by the disaster.
This is SO scary… the video is surreal:
https://www.yahoo.com/travel/watch-terrifying-video-footage-of-everest-117480558772.html
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-santa-monica-missing-nepal-20150426-story.html
OMG… I was wondering where musica’s avatar came from and googled it. Those signs are amazing. Google “danger dog blog”.
My friends are still stuck in Kathmandu. Safe but cold and tired. Hoping they will resume flights out today. Death toll is I believe over 3700 now. So horrible.
I read this morning that the USGS is estimating that the probable loss of life may be closer to 30,000. Entire villages have “disappeared” under avalanches.
Geolosists were expecting…
its been compared to the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan when at least 75,000 lost their lives.
Horrible.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-santa-monica-couple-nepal-20150427-story.html
nottelling-Your friends are safe!
One of the local high school students was at Everest Base Camp. He is OK, but the pictures are pretty shocking. Some of the climbers at Camp 1 made it back to base camp; not sure how they got past the icefall.
Avalanche or landslides?
From what I understand, villages are situated much lower than where the avalanches occur because nothing can grow at those high altitudes.
It’s very tragic because the remote villages are not accessible by car normally and hopefully they have enough planes and helicopters to look for them.
Thanks, moonchild. Just yesterday Mr. was considering getting a couple of “beware of dog” signs for our yard - not related to our discussion here. I hope the artists who survived the earthquake will continue their work, so I can give them some business.
Alpine Ascents, a Seattle-based guiding outfit, is reporting that they had good weather on Everest and were able to helicopter the remaining climbers down to base camp. Garrett Madison, one of their guides on Everest who was interviewed recently, was also involved in another huge avalanche tragedy.
http://www.outsideonline.com/1904131/11-dead-or-missing-scores-injured-manaslu-avalanche
Only peripherally related, but Sherpa Adventure gear is my favorite clothing brand - the wife and I own a bunch of it. The clothing is all made in Nepal, a way for the climbers to indirectly give back to the Sherpa families. Their website has some “before” pictures of the way they build their rock houses on the sides of mountains, so you can see how precarious they would be. Scroll down to see one of their towns:
http://www.sherpaadventuregear.com/
Just heard my friends got out of Nepal and are now in Varanasi, India trying to get to Delhi