When China shakes, so do we. Many are unaware that San Gabriel Valley is home to the largest Chinese populations outside the mainland. Last night at 2a.m. (PST) a 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook China to the core. Aside for leaving hundreds of thousands without shelter, the death toll is already estimated to be 8,500 and rising. Many Chinese-American’s feel helpless, because they are so far away from their families.
“We are very nervous. We are very worried because we are so far away,” said Xiao, who left Sichuan three years ago for Alhambra. “All my family is in Chengdu.”
At the Szechwan Best restaurant in Alhambra, flat-screen televisions were tuned to Chinese TV news stations, where earthquake coverage dominated. Waitress Xiao Xuemei, 50, said she got a call from friends at 2 a.m. telling her about the 7.9 quake, which was centered in Sichuan province in western China.
She immediately tried calling her family, but all cellphone coverage was down. She finally got through to her older sister in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu. Her sister said she fled her sixth-floor apartment amid violent shaking and was now camping on the street.
Xiao story is the same as many others today. It is important to remember that even though the incident was to far away, it effects the lives of many of us here in Los Angeles. The good news is that people are aware and they do care.
Chen Shijie, a spokesman for the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, said his office had been flooded with calls from mostly overseas Chinese asking how to donate money to aid the disaster victims. The consulate also received a call from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office expressing sympathy and an offer to help.
Chen suggested either contacting the Red Cross or sending money to the consulate.
“We will ensure it gets to the disaster area,” he said.
Chinese American activist Sue Zhang said she had been on the phone with other community leaders all morning to plan a fundraising event. She hopes to announce a fundraising weekend concert soon, with proceeds going to quake victims. [LATimes]
Photo by the LATimes
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