Earthquake safety is of the utmost importance in Nepal; in fact, it’s vital. John Adams High School graduate Saisa Gadal moved from South Bend back to Kathmandu, Nepal, in June, and has since both experienced an earthquake and taken action in aiding others. Fluent in both English and Nepali, she’s able to properly help the youth in earthquake preparedness. From the peak of Mount Everest to the bustling streets of the city, knowing what to do when earthquakes strike is essential. Saisa expands on these specifics in the following interview:
Q: How often does Nepal experience earthquakes? On what scale?
A: So, there are two types of scale impacts when an earthquake hits Nepal: the economic and physical ones. The economic side is very strong as there are still people struggling with unemployment, companies going under, and homelessness by the 2015 earthquake. And the physical impact is obvious—the heavy destruction and mass loss of lives. Thankfully, the earthquake preparedness programs are stepping up, which is making a big difference.
Nepal experiences earthquakes almost every day and it is safe to say that they are not as destructive, as the earthquake preparedness programs are taking great steps to make a difference. Earthquakes in Nepal, come in all waves from magnitudes of 4.1 to 7 and up. Recently, a few days ago, Nepal experienced an earthquake of 6.9 magnitudes on Jan 7th, which I was woken up by and immediately called Riley. This was around 6 am, and it scared the life out of me. It brought back memories of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal when I was just 8 years old. The 2015 earthquake, alongside the 1934 earthquake in Nepal is one of the most significant, and destructive earthquakes that has occurred in Nepal, which is why it is such a prominent topic in Nepal. They were of 7.1 rector scales and 8.0 rector scales. Thousands of lives were lost, and there are still to this date affected people living by this earthquake. People live in tents, still, because of their loss of homes. However, organizations like NSET, UNICEF and many more organizations help the Nepali citizens in earthquake preparedness, which I will talk more about in the next question.
Q: What safety precautions are implemented to prepare for earthquakes?
A: Regardless of the range of magnitudes of earthquakes alongside the destructiveness, Nepal is prone to earthquake destruction due to the housing materials in Nepal. Houses in Nepal are made up of mud and bricks, which is why I mention the housing materials. They are considerably weak, and I’m talking the entire house moving when you walk around type of weak. However, generous donations from USAID and many other international companies help fund these destruction developments. Many earthquake organizations in Nepal and the government conduct earthquake preparedness in education.
Q: How do students prepare for earthquakes?
A: Students in schools are provided with an earthquake preparedness curriculum and frequently visited by organizations that provide presentations and conduct huge events regarding earthquake preparedness. I my self am one of them. I have had the amazing chance of educating children through NSET (National Society of Earthquake Technology Nepal), specifically to impoverished children about natural disasters. I can guarantee that almost every child in Nepal knows the drop-cover-hold method when an earthquake is experienced. This is a 3 step method when you drop on your knees and crouch on the floor, cover your head—specifically the neck area, make yourself as tiny as possible, and hold until the earthquake is over. This method prevents fatal injuries during an earthquake. Several other methods like hiding under the table and going to an open ground are also taught to children. This teaching is most effective because children from ages 10-17 learn about this.
Q: How educated is the general public on earthquake safety?
A: After the devastating earthquakes that occurred in the years 1934 and 2015, I believe the entire population of Nepal is properly educated about earthquake safety in Nepal. Regardless of these bigger earthquakes, there are still aftershocks in Nepal. With the lighter loss and impacts of these aftershocks, I am happy to say that the general public is well-educated on earthquake safety.
Q: In what ways can Nepal improve its earthquake preparedness?
A: Nepal has a great earthquake preparedness educating community and there are no doubts that these improvements will be implemented in no time, but a few improvements I’d suggest are:
- Better economic system of Nepal for a less impactful destruction
- Increased earthquake preparedness programs all over, not only for students but also for neighborhoods and companies
- More organizations for better donations and help
While the tragedy that follows an earthquake can never fully be prevented, important precautions have aided the general public in awareness and preparedness. Thanks to companies such as NSET and UNICEF, those at risk know what to do and how to do it if ever caught amidst an earthquake. From her arrival to Kathmandu, Saisa evidently makes the lives of the youth in Nepal safer through earthquake safety education.
