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.
How about governor? He's already done more than that sniveling twit they have now...
Good for him. But didn't he take the bus away from other mothers and children waiting to board? What gave this bunch the need or right to be on the first bus out of town. Fifty other loaded buses arrived at the Astro Dome later, didn't they.
An emergency situation demands action, not passivity.
I wonder how long before these folks are arrested for "stealing a school bus".
And he's omly 20! What an exceptional young man, a thinker!
You sure as hell don't speak for me or anyone in the Dallas area that I know personally. I'm ashamed to be breathing the same air with you. You just sit back and chew your nails. The rest of us will do what we can for these poor people.
I agree. That's why I thought the statment was horrible.
How would you feel if you were in their shoes?
Maybe you should volunteer some of your spare time to help.
Jabbar is 18 according to this story.
Video link and story here:
http://www.local6.com/news/4929516/detail.html
Parents are nice, but they aren't irreplaceable.
Arrivals were being searched for weapons. Capt. John Anderson of the Houston Police Department’s homeland security division said police had found six pistols and about a dozen knives this morning
Really well go ahead and watch them pistols and knives while you're there!
PS last I heard PERSONALLY attacking someone is NOT allowed!
Sorry. Didn't really mean my response at you.
Friend of mine's girlfriend is from Alabamy, and she says we talk SO fast up here in Detroit, at first she had difficulty understanding what was being said.
Yu watch yo' mouth, we ain't got no accents. You da people who talk funny. We jist talk lik the normal folks 'round here.
You get out and tell them your self.
Give these folks and the bus driver and A+ for initiative.
Reading the revelation of such a mind set here on Free Republic, is scary. There are situations when doing it your way and damn the consequences is the proper course of action. In this case though, with 51 busses lined up and loading storm victems for the trip to the Astro-Dome, I can't really see how it is excusable for some punk to steal the first bus for him and his.
Thank you for your service. Keep a cool head and try not to let this get to you. You must seem like an angel to these people.
They just borrowed the bus. They gave it back.
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.So much for women and children first...
Most here at FR seem to think so, even though they usually preface that opinion by saying "It's not Bush's fault, the State should have been ready."
Should they have waited until they were too sick to walk from drinking contaminated water, or until the criminal looters started shooting and raping them?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.