Nepal

[Amandistan]

It's terrible heart breaking news. 
I wish I could go over there right now and help. However, an untrained person would probably be in the way.
If in the next year, they take help with rebuilding or lifting of local spirits, I will be on the very next flight.
 
Has anyone ever done relief work such as this? 
And does anyone want to join me when they eventually ask for volunteers?

Unlike many who wish to help, I am actually crazy enough to drop everything and do it. 
But not if it means causing more harm than good.

[szmurf]

The folks that need to travel there are the ones who have had training and experience.  I doubt there's a whole lot that folks like us can do outside of donate money.   

[Johnz]

I did some relief work with the Red Cross years ago and worked in Eastern Europe during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It can be very rewarding work but you need a thick skin. It's hard work and can be dangerous but the biggest difficulties usually arise from within the organizations you work for (mismanagement, dealing with corruption and general politics etc.).

For the most part I really enjoyed it though, if that is the right word for it. It stops you wondering what you are doing with your life.

[Ava Enturin]

Viewed from a slightly different angle: As a geologist I know where some very dangerous spots on the earth are, and believe me, most of these are catastrophies waiting to happen. For instance, there are studies out there which suggest that there is massive energy trapped in the NAT (North Anatolian Transform fault), directly beneath Istanbul. Can anyone imagine what would happen if a major earthquake would hit there?
Another example is Vesuvius: one of the most dangerous volcanoes of the world for the fact alone that a megacity is build directly at its flanks. And it has a record of violent eruptions.

Unfortunately, the most dangerous spots on earth is where the most poor people on earth live (i.e. Indonesia: google i.e. Toba or Tambora if you´re interested). In case of volcanoes: even when you get a research foundation to give you money to set up some monitoring equipment: there is just no guarantee that the stuff will still be there when you come back to check on it a couple of months later. Stolen, in most cases. Sold, to feed your children.

Catastrophes like this always make me feel very very helpless.

[Danny]

Good article about the actual impact well-meaning but untrained/unskilled volunteers often have in these situations: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/27/earthquake-nepal-dont-rush-help-volunteers-aid

[Amandistan]

Good article about the actual impact well-meaning but untrained/unskilled volunteers often have in these situations: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/27/earthquake-nepal-dont-rush-help-volunteers-aid

That's why I would not go at the moment.  I would never want to be in the way of people that are trained to deal with this.

[Rusco]

Then what about the many other investigations about earthquakes they've been giving warnings about: please correct me if I'm wrong but the west coast of the States, like San Francisco and a tsunami, or an earthquake in some of the islands on Athlantic Ocean that have some vulcanic activity?

Ava, I've been climbing once on Ethna mountain. It was in 80's and I remember there was a tourist cafe/restaurant or something near to the highest residing bus stop. Well I heard in 90's it didn't exist anymore. Lava waves buried it. Also, it was strange feeling to walk on many, many years of old and hardened black lava. It was warm still!

[Ava Enturin]

Hej Rusco, yes, basically all places with active subduction ("ring of fire") are at risk for major earthquakes. The big 2004 one was linked to that, the 2011 Japan quake, and also the recent Nepal quake, as India is currently "sliding" under the Eurasion plate.

The island you refer to might be La Palma in the Canaries, and all of these islands have a history for major landslides, which then might trigger tsunamis. However, how much risk the island poses is far from agreed upon. Most researchers believe that the risk is not very high, actually.

I envy you for having climbed Etna! That´s pretty high on my list of things to do.. Sicily... hmmm. Not only for the volcano But yeah, it´s pretty great I think to walk along fresh magmatic rocks and see the landscape changing so fast and powerful. Usually puts things into perspective for me