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.
Faith can move mountains. Bring a shovel.
"They helped themselves in a positive way"
As ralph Kramden would say, "Hummna...hummna...hummna...Jabbar...you're the greatest!
I volunteered at the Reliant Astrodome last night and it was absolutely heart wrenching. There was plenty of food and water but there was a shortage of clothes. Socks, shoes, T-shirts and shorts would greatly help. Also, they need to set up portable shower systems outside the dome because some of these people have not bathed in days. Cuts are infected and feet are swollen. God bless the Red Cross and the rest of the Volunteers. There was an Army Unit that was helping set up the Reliant Arena up for more refugees as well. My faith in humanity has been greatly increased because of this experience. A fund needs to be set up that will enable these refugees to rebuild their homes. Most lost everything. After hearing the stories of the refugees I fear the death toll will be higher than anyone expected. I see the face of God in these poor people. He is crying out to us to love our brothers and sisters in need.
BUMPING!
And the school district lost one less bus to the flood.
None of them are trash, though some should be eradicated.
But, they are the ones suffering, while criticism is being bestowed. It's easy to be high and mighty, while sitting there in a chair, with a beer in hand. It's a little tougher, when you see a corpse float by, and turds bumping against you as you walk. Take a hike, with them...
I hope they come sit on your doorstep, stopem, so you can help educate them..
Thread on a similar topic....
"I've been there. I still don't like how they talk."
Just ribbing you. I don't either.
I hope they come sit on your doorstep, stopem, so you can help educate them...
Kudos to the kid who commandeered the bus and helped his fellow citizens.
Beats hanging around New Orleans, breaking into stores and shooting at firefighters.
Replace Nagin with Jabbar!
I own a shovel. I even have a spare shovel in case my neighbor wants to join in and can't get to his shovel. In an emergency like this I wouldn't even be looking for a Gov't Official of any kind to show up. Self-sufficiency, and if I don't make it I still wouldn't expect a Gov't Helicopter to save the day.
God bless 'em! Stuff like this gives me some hope.
Or New Yawk or Bahhhssst'n or Cincinnati or Chicago or Detroit or Los Angeles etc......
These folks looted a bus.
Wonderful that you could help them. Our town is collecting money to be sent down there, I believe with some of our fire department volunteers, who are leaving today for N.O. to help out.
where did you park. How did you get in?
This kid is a hero. He went above and beyond the call of duty to help himself and fellow man. He had never driven a bus before, this takes GUTS. America needs more self reliant people. One thing this tragedy has told us is that city folk have a much harder time taking care of themselvs without government than rural folk. I think we may see a resurrection of rural type knowledge. Invest in survival training schools. Who knows, maybe city folk will actually come out to the rural parts of the country, get to know those people they always make fun of, and LEARN HOW TO LIVE.
Now THAT is the kind of self-reliance that ought to be shown by all able-bodied people in New Orleans.
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