Nepal earthquake survivors talk to PG about disaster prep

A Canadian woman and her Nepali husband are going on a cross-Canada tour to talk about preparing for natural disasters, and to raise money for the aid efforts in Nepal.

Wendy Leroux and Buddhi Parajuli were at home in Pokhara when the 7.8 magnitude quake that killed more than 8,500 hit.

“The house started shaking, and I was resting, I had injured my knee in an accident and didn’t have a brace on, but I ran outside and tried to find Buddhi,” recalls Leroux, “You just try to reach each other first, and find a safe place to hide out, which was our garden. And then it kicks in that this is really happening and there’s nothing we can do but ride it out… And then once it stops, you need to find water and provisions.”

From a tiny desk in her house, Leroux began coordinating rescue-relief efforts, and tried to get people across the world in contact with their loved ones in Nepal.

Now back on Canadian soil, Leroux and Parajuli have started ViveNepal.ca to raise awareness and send money to international aid groups.

Recipients of the funds include Waves for Water, which supplies clean water through sustainable and low-cost water filtration, and Edge of Seven, which rebuild sustainable schools across Nepal.

In the BC leg of the tour, the couple wants people to start talking about preparing for natural disasters.

While concerns about an earthquake in Vancouver may now have the biggest impact on life in PG, Leroux is concerned fracking could.

“The disposal of drilling wastewater used in fracking has now been scientifically linked to earthquakes. The fluids used in fracking (and the wastewater that comes back up the well) is disposed of by injecting it into disposal wells deep underground. This is generally regarded as the safest, most cost-efficient way to get rid of it,” says a StateImpact report, “But in some parts of the country, especially in the Barnett Shale area around Dallas-Fort Worth, it has also been causing earthquakes. And they’re growing both in number and strength.”

Leroux says it’s important to have some emergency items set aside in the case of a storm or blackout as well.

“You’re always going to work or going home, so your car is a very important place to have a grab bag with some non-perishable food, some water, just in case.”

Leroux has passed through Vanderhoof and Prince George, and is heading back east to continue the tour.