Nepal devastation felt in Hudson Valley, as local communities step in to help
"My family, my friends and I were in utter shock. We see the flash floods being surfaced online, sweeping away villages, sweeping away homes and these are actual people living in these homes," Lama told News 12.
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The devastation in Nepal is being felt in the Hudson Valley, despite the two locations being thousands of miles apart.
At the restaurant Himalaya Yorktown, Nordhen Lama and his father stay busy.
"We've been operating this restaurant for over a decade," said Lama.
But their hearts are also with another part of the world.
"My family, my friends and I were in utter shock. We see the flash floods being surfaced online, sweeping away villages, sweeping away homes and these are actual people living in these homes," Lama told News 12.
Lama's parents are from Nepal and he still has family there.
"My immediate family members are thankfully OK. However, the people in my community, their families have been impacted by this event, and so our hearts mourn for them," said Lama.
That devastation is being felt in other parts of the Hudson Valley too.
Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha says she's proud to be the first New York state legislator of Nepali origin.
"I spent my first 20 or 21 years of my life in Nepal, and I still have a lot of family there," said Shrestha.
She says her family is OK.
"The real concern is the magnitude of this event. Now people are really on the lookout and are alert for subsequent disasters that could come out of this, whether it's flooding or whether it's recurring climate incidents," Shrestha explained.
Back in Yorktown, Lama says his community is doing what they can to help.
"I know that we, as a nation of Nepal, are very resilient and we will find a way to deal with this for sure," said Lama.
