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Monday, MAY 4, 2015 - May 10, 2015 - Volume 20, No. 18
California Task Force 2 Deploys to Nepal Earthquake– International Red Cross Already Assisting Victims by terry miller
Former Pasadena City College President Rocha will Have to Pay PCC $403,000 Trustees broke open government laws when they made the deal in a closed session meeting
- Photo Courtesy Red Cross International
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April. Authorities report over 5,000 people have been killed and many buildings have collapsed in the capital, Kathmandu. As search and rescue efforts continue, hospitals in the capital continue to function but are stretched to the limit. Powerful aftershocks continue to be felt, so further damage is a risk, increasing the climate of fear amongst the local population. Major relief organizations, including the Red Cross, have already arrived on scene and describe the indescribable destruction this massive quake caused. While details of the impact continue to come in, the Nepal Red Cross, which
has extensive experience in responding to natural disasters, is providing first aid, search and rescue, blood to medical facilities in the capital and support to first responders. Reports vary, but well over 3,000 people have been killed in Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, and at the Nepal-China border, with some 5,800 more injured. Many are feared trapped under rubble and the number of casualties is expected to rise. Some eight million people have been affected by the quake. At least 15 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 5 to 6.7, caused further damage to buildings and increased the risk of collapse. Tremors were felt as far away as Lahore in Pakistan, Lhasa in Tibet, and in Dhaka,
Bangladesh. More than six million people live within 60 miles of the epicenter, located some 50 miles northwest of the densely populated capital Katmandu which itself has a population of 2.5 million. Buildings and infrastructure have been damaged and destroyed. Electricity and telephone connectivity is intermittent and mobile services are experiencing heavy congestion. Hospitals continue to function but are stretched to the limits. Accessibility and transportation are challenging in Nepal in the best of times. Before the earthquake, many rural communities where the Nepal Red Cross worked were only accessible by foot. The main international air-
port in Kathmandu is a very basic facility, and planes often have to wait long hours in queue to land. With the destruction, this situation is even more dire and getting supplies and transporting them within country is going to be a major challenge. The Nepal Red Cross is headquartered in Kathmandu and has branches in all 75 districts, more than 1,300 sub-branches, 1.1 million members, and 100,000 active volunteers. The American Red Cross has been working with the NRCS since 1999, with its first long term project, focused on earthquake preparedness in Kathmandu, dating back to 2003. The 57–member USA2 (CA-TF2) Medium Urban SEE PG. 5
Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Joanne O’Donnell rejected a $403,000 resignation contract with former embattled Pasadena City College President Mark Rocha Wednesday after deciding the board of trustees broke open government laws when they made the deal in a closed session meeting. Rocha who had been under considerable fire last year for a number of remarks, resigned and got a whopping 18 months of severance in August. However it has been revealed that the abrupt resignation and disbursement came about as a result of Rocha threatening
Former PCC President Rocha
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litigation against the board of trustees because of a board member’s comments to the press. Judge Joanne O’Donnell’s ruling means Rocha will have to repay PCC $403,000. We requested more information from the Interim Superintendent, Robert Miller. David Steinman returned our request via email on behalf of Dr.Miller saying only : “The Board is aware of the Court's ruling and is considering next steps. The Board cannot comment further as the matter concerns pending litigation.”
- Photo by Terry Miller
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