They were miles away from the epicenter, but "for three minutes, everybody felt a strong shake," Qin said. "Everybody was so scared."

Her family survived, but much of her home province is paralyzed. Qin said an uncle who lived closer to the quake's center is camping outside with his children, for fear of falling buildings.

Several Chinese associations in the Triangle are teaming up to send relief. Approximately 15,600 people in North Carolina are from China, with about 7,300 of them living in the Triangle, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Officers with the Chinese American Friendship Association in Cary said the group is partnering with Chinese student groups at area universities and Chinese language schools across the Triangle to raise money for relief.

The money will go to the Chinese Red Cross Society.

Owen Chen of Cary, the group's board chairman, said they collected about $20,000 this winter after massive snow storms in China.

Chinese computer maker Lenovo, which has a headquarters in Morrisville, was not affected, spokeswoman Kristy Fair said.