Ramona Family Reported Safe in New Zealand Earthquake Region

The International Tennis Federation has cancelled the four Cups scheduled to be played in Christchurch, New Zealand, because of severe damage to the tennis facilities but, for now, the Cups scheduled for Timaru and Ashburton, near Christchurch, will continue, according to a news release.

Leland Rolling of Ramona has been competing in the Dubler Cup Men's 45 and over World Championship. His wife, Tracy, and their two children have been in Christchurch with Leland. Ramona Patch has received a report that the Rollings are safe, but we have been unable to reach them to verify the information. We will try to talk to them about the 6.3 earthquake that shook the city Monday and toppled buildings to the ground. Seventy five people have been confirmed dead and the death toll is expected to rise. Many people have been injured and ambulance services were overwhelmed Monday. We have heard that people were evacuated from hotels in the city in case of pending injuries or damage.

A Carlsbad woman is safe in Christchurch, according to .

New Zealand's prime minister was reported as saying that this could be "New Zealand's darkest day" according to an Associated Press story carried on AOL News Tuesday. The report quoted John Key as saying, "It is just a scene of utter devastation."

Andy Stoner was Leland's partner in the doubles match on Monday. Stoner is from Cave Creek, Ariz.. Leland's other team members include Rick Leach from Newport Beach and Mario Tabares of Miami, Fla.

Mike Fedderly of Palm Desert is competing in the Fred Perry Cup Men's 50 and over. . Fedderly reports that his hotel was damaged and that tennis tournament organizers are making plans to fly Americans home.

A San Diego woman, Gretchen Magers, is in the Margaret Court Cup Women's 45 and over competition. Carolyn Nichols of Rancho Santa Fe and Tina Karwasky of Glendale are competing in the Maureen Connolly Cup Women's 55 and over.

Joanne Russell from Calabasas is in the Maria Esther Bueno Cup Women's 50 and over. Amy Alchi from Malibu has been competing in the Young Cup Women's 40 and over.

A decision about the 2011 Seniors World Individual Championships, scheduled to be played next week in Christchurch, will be made Tuesday.

Any players competing in the Individual Championships who have not already arrived in New Zealand are being told to delay their journey until Tuesday's announcement.

LA County Fire is flying resources to Christchurch at the request of the New Zealand government, a CalFire spokesman told Ramona Patch. The country has declared a national disaster.

Leland Rolling and Andy Stoner, beat the doubles team from Japan in all three of their matches Monday. Opening ceremonies took place on Sunday.

“They did a fantastic job,” his wife, Tracy, informed Ramona Patch before the earthquake. She was in the stands, along with their sons, Kellen and Bryce, cheering for the team.

Tracy, 41, is a freelance writer for Ramona Home Journal. Leland, 46, is a business consultant who works out of San Diego. Their sons are Kellen, 13, and Bryce, 9.

Christchurch airport has been closed except for emergencies Tuesday (which is Wednesday in New Zealand) but is expected to be open Wednesday (US).

A New Zealand sports editor, Rikki Swannell of Newstalk ZB Radio, emailed Ramona Patch: "We have contact numbers for the tournament organizer, but as you can appreciate communication is very difficult. International visitors to the city were evacuated to a local park yesterday and many are being flown out of the city."

Update Wednesday Feb. 24: According to a report on Newport Beach Patch --

Mark Winters, spokesman for the Southern California Tennis Association, said he received an e-mail from a player in New Zealand reporting that "all players are accounted for."

(The death count in Christchurch is now 102, with 228 people missing. The US search and rescue team has arrived. They'll be working with teams from five other countries that have offered help to New Zealand.)