Posted on 09/02/2005 9:15:38 AM PDT by Jalapeno
The first busload of New Orleans refugees to reach the Reliant Astrodome overnight was a group of people who commandeered a school bus in the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and drove to Houston looking for shelter.
Jabbar Gibson, 20, said police in New Orleans told him and others to take the school bus and try to get out of the flooded city.
Gibson drove the bus from the flooded Crescent City, picking up stranded people, some of them infants, along the way. Some of those on board had been in the Superdome, among those who were supposed to be evacuated to Houston on more than 400 buses Wednesday and today. They couldn't wait.
The group of mostly teenagers and young adults pooled what little money they had to buy diapers for the babies and fuel for the bus.
After arriving at the Astrodome at about 10:30 p.m., however, they initially were refused entry by Reliant officials who said the aging landmark was reserved for the 23,000 people being evacuated from the Louisiana Superdome.
"Now, we don't have nowhere to go," Gibson said. "We heard the Astrodome was open for people from New Orleans. We ain't ate right, we ain't slept right. They don't want to give us no help. They don't want to let us in."
Milling about the Reliant entrance, Sheila Nathan, 38, told her teary-eyed toddler that she was too tired to hold him.
"I'm trying to make it a fairy tale so they won't panic," said Nathan, who had four grandchildren in tow. "I have to be strong for them."
After about 20 minutes of confusion and consternation, Red Cross officials announced that the group of about 50 to 70 evacuees would be allowed into the Astrodome.
All were grateful to be out of the devastation and misery that had overtaken their hometown.
"I feel good to get out of New Orleans," said Demetrius Henderson, who got off the bus with his wife and three children. Many of those around him alternated between excited, cranky and nervous, clutching suitcases or plastic garbage bags of clothes.
They looked as bedraggled as their grueling ride would suggest: 13 hours on the commandeered bus driven by a 20-year-old man. Watching bodies float by as they tried to escape the drowning city. Picking up people along the way. Three stops for fuel. Chugging into Reliant Park, only to be told initially that they could not spend the night.
Every bit worth it.
"We took the bus and got out of the city. We were trying to get out of the city," James Hickerson said.
Several passengers on the bus said they took the matter into their own hands earlier Wednesday because they felt rescuers and New Orleans authorities were too slow in offering help.
"They are not worried about us," said Makivia Horton, 22, who is five months pregnant.
The way I read the article, this guy jumped ahead of law abiding people,( sick,old, pregnant, babies, children, etc.) waiting to be boarded and took the bus illegally and drove his gang to houston- and to hell with everyone else. Where's the proof the police told him to take the bus?
I have the same attitude, and built my house to be 100% self-sufficient for power, water and septic for a minimum of two weeks.
So why do Americans allow the useless Big Stupid Government to steal so much money, only to fall on their asses when needed? Think this will change now? I don't.
I give up.
It's bird season out back of my house. If the spent shot doesn't stop rattling on my tin roof sometime soon I might have to call somebody at Fish and Game or the Troopers. Oh, wait, they will just laugh and tell me it's normal weather this time of year. Good thing I have grub here for the duration, because it might be dicey getting to the SUV to go into town.
"How do you feel about Texas being inundated with these folks?"
I'm so happy you asked this ,because it gives me the chance to say,I welcome them.
NO is a beautiful city.Once order is restored, the refugees will return to NO. I hope that they remember the Texans as being hospitable.
Give him the mayors job. He showed much more initiative.
Telling them they can't come to Texas reduces them in rank to that of illegal immigrants, who we actually can lawfully restrict.
Frankly it's scaring the heck out of my friends family and myself.
I can see the atrodome trashed or worse, there will be anarchy here on the streets of Dallas.
Put them in military bases where they can be watched and the citizens of Texas will be safe.
Heavens to Betsey! Better watch out that these horrible colored folks just might get a glance of Highland Park and we'd be ruined ....
Sitting around pondering, I think one of the most immediate things is to involve people back into their own destiny. Give people the job of cleaning, and fixing meals. Get them active, and proactive...
Teach the poor how to fish...
Government workers are not required to help citizens just because we may need help. In an emergency, waiting for aid from someone else is plain foolishness.
Jabbar Gibson bump. Many more stories will come out of just this kind of heroism and bravery. This will be one of many finest hours for America, as well as some of it's darkest. I think the finest will win.
Red
Ditto to that. I have a couple of cases of Ts I can send.
Shut up!!!!!! Someone actually helps themselves and you are splitting hairs.
TechnoChick99,
See if Todd1 can FReepmail you his address to send stuff. I can't do that.
Yeah, especially with the horror stories we keep hearing about the 'Thugs of New Orleans'. Let these young citizens be an example to the children that they saved.
Thank God.
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