Quake troubles visitors
By REGAN FOSTER - rfoster@nwherald.com
McHENRY – Meng Xiangcui, Yang Yuedong and Wu Jun politely examined air-filter masks, full-body suits, and a massive portable shower that first responders can take directly to emergency scenes.
Even as they studied Centegra Health System’s hazardous-materials equipment, rescue workers in their home country of China struggled to save as many lives as possible. On Monday, a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake shook the Sichuan province – a neighboring province to the north and west of the delegates’ home in Guizhou province.
About 15,000 people were confirmed dead Wednesday, and tens of thousands more were injured or missing as rescue workers scoured the wreckage in search of survivors.
“The earthquake is a disaster and caused heavy damage,” said Wu, the assistant to the general manager of construction and investment holding for the province.
The trio’s hometown, Guiyang City, is about 300 miles south of the epicenter, Wu said. Although family members reported feeling the temblor, the town itself didn’t sustain much damage, Meng said.
“Our city just had a small effect,” said Meng, who is the vice chairwoman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference – Wudang Committee.
Yang, Meng and Wu all are governmental employees in China. They came to the U.S. last winter to participate in the Chinese Public Administration Training Academy.
That program, headquartered at Northern Illinois University, introduces seasoned Chinese leaders to American governmental approaches. They spent five months studying at the DeKalb university before setting out on a series of externships.
Yang, Meng and Wu will spend at least three days a week for the remainder of the month in McHenry County. Monday found them at the McHenry County Emergency Management offices, and Tuesday they toured the sheriff’s department, Emergency Management Director Barry Valentine said.
While the delegates learned the American response to emergency situations, Beijing mounted a military mobilization Wednesday to rescue people trapped in the rubble of the temblor.
Much of the Maryland-sized disaster zone teemed with refugees crammed into sports arenas, government tent camps or rickety makeshift shelters of plastic sheeting.
The quake and situation back home weighs heavily on the externs’ minds, although all three said their families and property seemed safe for now. Meng said the government’s response to the situation was appropriate.
“When this happened, our premier [went] to the disaster place [in] just 90 minutes by air,” she said, adding that the government sprang to action “very, very quickly.”
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
