Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT) Summary by Tracy Becker and Laura Whitehurst.
Many schools in Nepal are being used as shelters.
Below are links and pictures of specific schools, but it is a widespread trend. Given the focus on retrofitting and reconstructing schools as a high priority, it is not surprising that these buildings fared well in the earthquake. Not only were these buildings effective in saving the lives of the people inside them during the earthquake (although many were empty since it was a Saturday), but they now are doing double duty by serving as shelters for displaced residents.
Video 1
This news report (partly in Nepali) shows footage of the Basundhara Academy in Kathmandu, which is being used a temporary shelter for more than 100 people (Video 1). The school appears to have not suffered any damage. (Source: NDTV)
Here is another video report from Nepal (Video 2). He is just outside of Kathmandu (Jharuwarashi in Lalitpur) at a food distribution center that has been set up in a school. Looking at the footage of the video, it’s clear that the school has been retrofitted with a concrete frame, and appears to have performed very well in the earthquake.
Video 2
Figure 1. Nem Tamrakar, left, and his family take refuge Friday in a school classroom in Bhaktapur, Nepal. (Bhirkuti Rai / For The Times)
At the Vidyarthi Niketan School in Bhaktapur, “a new academic term began last week, but they weren’t practicing Thursday for any school function. Classes have been suspended indefinitely. Bhaktapur, a historic town famous for its temples, suffered heavy damage in last Saturday’s earthquake, and the school has been transformed into a shelter for almost 800 people.” (source)
A Turkish private school has opened its doors to the public.
“Halil Çınar, the director of the Meridian International School, said they had opened up the garden of their school for locals and tourists and provided them with food, blankets and a place to sleep.” (source)
In Bhaktapur, “in a nearby school, hundreds of homeless survivors gathered. Adihkahi estimated that 5,000 houses had been destroyed in Bhaktapur alone, meaning at least 30,000 or 40,000 people without homes. Some will be able to find shelter with relatives in already overcrowded tenements. Others are lost.” (source)
Figure 2. Credit: Dr. Sanjeeb Panday.
“During his trip on outside of Kathmandu, Dr. Sanjeeb Panday, 9N1SP, took a picture of the Sitaram Higher Secondary school in Ramkot. The school is being used as a shelter and Dr. Panday reported that as many as 1500 individuals are sheltering in the school.” (source)
HOPEww School in Kathmandu
A private school run by an American Christian organization has opened their doors as a shelter.
“As the situation in Nepal becomes bleaker, the HOPE worldwide school remains a hopeful light in Kathmandu. Volunteers at the school have been providing meals and shelter for those who have been displaced. The HOPE worldwide Nepal School has been providing educational opportunities for the people in and around Katmandu for many years. HOPE worldwide Nepal responded quickly and opened the school to shelter families whose houses were destroyed.” (source)
Curated topics from the April 25, 2015, Nepal Earthquake to help inform reconnaissance activities, identify impacted regions, and help document the timeline of earthquake response/recovery.
Information on school buildings, especially those retrofitted or involved in mitigation programs pre-quake, from the April 25, 2015, Nepal Earthquake.
