People the world over are still reeling from the news of yesterday's bombings in London - and Incline Village residents are no different.

Four explosions blasted London subway lines and ripped open a packed double-decker bus during the morning rush hour Thursday. By press time Thursday afternoon, at least 37 people had been reported killed and more than 700 injured.

Incline resident Mary Hubbard told of the great relief she felt when she received an e-mail from her daughter, who lives in London, Thursday morning to say she was alright.

Hubbard was concerned the bus her daughter and granddaughter ride was bombed, as reports described a bus's roof being blown off by an explosion.

Her granddaughter rides the public bus to school, but school is out now, Hubbard remembered.

Hubbard's daughter, Andi Libuser, and her husband and three children have plans to fly to Tahoe on Monday.

"At first we were concerned about her flying out on American Airlines, but a friend reminded me that security will be at its highest now," she said. "It's probably the safest time to fly."

Incline resident Rhona Gillespie, whose sister, Megan, lives outside of London, also e-mailed family members to say she was alright.

"As a solicitor, she travels a lot, so it was a concern," said Bill, Rhona's husband. "She lives near one of the tube stops."

"(The bombings) reminded me of when I was in England during 9-11," said Kate Atkinson, interim pastor at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church.

Atkinson hails from England and worked in London for many years.

"My heart is bleeding for the people there," she said.

Atkinson also remembers a time when she worked in London and the entire city went quiet. The Irish Republican Army had bombed a local restaurant.

At this point Atkinson has not heard from family members or friends who live in England, but she said they do not live in London, so it's likely they were not injured or killed.

"Even if it isn't affecting me personally, it affects us all," she said.

Atkinson has plans to travel to London in a couple of weeks, and she is adamant that travel plans remain intact.

"That's the whole point. If we don't go, the terrorists are winning," she said. "It's essential not to let them scare the life out of us."

Atkinson's response to the event was to plan a service of prayer and remembrance for the victims of the bombings. The service is planned for noon today at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, and all are welcome.

"There are so many unanswered questions, so much fear," she said. "People need a place to center themselves."

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza photographer Emma Garrard spoke with her cousin, Nikki Garrard, who lives in the London area.

Nikki Garrard said she is fine, but the children she teaches are traumatized.

"The poor kids were very frightened," she said.

Until public transportation is up and running again, some will be walking an hour to commute to work.

"I'm going to have to take my bike everywhere," Nikki Garrard said. "The school kids don't want to travel. It's horrid."

Her school is two miles from one of the bomb sites.

She said she hopes this will be the end of terrorist bombings and that security will be stepped up. Five of her students were released to visit loved ones in the hospital, she said.

"It's our 9-11 on a small scale," she said.



- The Associated Press contributed to this story.