2024-11-21T13:10:00-05:00 https://archinect.com/features/article/126442466/how-architects-can-help-nepal-and-learn-from-past-disastrous-mistakes-successes Julia Ingalls 2015-04-30T18:20:00-04:00 >2022-03-16T09:16:08-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/bh/bh9iznkzltss76vf.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>April 25th&rsquo;s 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal has razed entire villages, severely disrupted basic infrastructure, and is responsible for the loss of over 5,000 lives. According to The Guardian, the death toll may rise to as many <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/28/nepal-earthquake-anger-among-survivors-as-food-and-water-in-short-supply" target="_blank">10,000 people</a>. Unfortunately, in the wake of natural disasters, the architectural community has traditionally waited out the initial emergency phase before lending aid. The embarrassing response to 2005&rsquo;s Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, in which thousands of refugees sweltered in the Superdome for days without ready access to running water, prompted organizations including the AIA to revamp their emergency-response guidelines. Now, architects are encouraged to immediately respond to a disaster.</p>