School bus comandeered by renegade refugees first to arrive at Astrodome

Houston Chronicle ^ | SALATHEIA BRYANT and CYNTHIA LEONOR GARZA

[Mo1]

"We took the bus and got out of the city. We were trying to get out of the city," James Hickerson said.

Good for them in taking matters in their own hands and getting out of there

[nicmarlo]

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.

Agreed...kudos to him.

[cyborg]

How are they renegade if they were given the bus?

[pageonetoo]

There are plenty of places to take them. It will require some hard work, but I'd bet many would be glad to start. Open the empty miltary facilites. Keep people in tents, until a proper roof can be established. Set up field kitchens. Put people to work. THE VICTIMS need to do something to establish order to their world.

Nobody should have to sleep on the floor of a stadium, shoulder to shoulder, on cots... for weeks. Nobody in America.

[Sloth]

Any 20 year-old who hops behind the wheel of a bus for the first time and drives a bunch of refugees on a five-hour ride should immediately be named Chief Bus Driver for New Orleans, the State of Louisiana, or whatever.

Let's make him Mayor. He's helped dozens more people than Nagin.

[HIDEK6]

They even paid their own way there.

Truly heroic. Let's give them the Medal of Freedom.

[Antoninus]

Finally, a story to feel good about. Nice work, folks.

[cyborg]

You'll like this one.

[kittymyrib]

The Texas teachers will have a lot on their plates, bless them. In my years of teaching, I never had a transfer from LA, black or white, who at grade level.

[kittymyrib]

The Texas teachers will have a lot on their plates, bless them. In my years of teaching, I never had a transfer from LA, black or white, who was at grade level.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

God bless you for you action. Keep up the good works.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

“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.”

It almost sounded like the voyage of the SS St. Louis, May 13, 1939; but luckily, they weren’t turned away as the passengers on the SS St. Louis were.

What a great, wonderful story for a change.

[L98Fiero]

"Or New Yawk or Bahhhssst'n or Cincinnati or Chicago or Detroit or Los Angeles etc......"

LOL. Good point.

[Shalom Israel]

Is 38 young to have 4 grandkids?

Let's see. Assuming they aren't quadruplets, they started being born at least four years ago. So she was at most 34 when her kid (probably daughter) started having babies. Assuming puberty at 13, the mother was at least 13, so this lady was at most 21 when she had her daughter. Likeliest case, she had her daughter at about 17, who started having babies at about 17. For the inner city, that's actually prolly about average... coulda been far worse. A 25-year-old with a grandchild wouldn't shock me off my chair.

[born in the Bronx]

What are they supposed to do, stand around and watch their children die?

[Dallas59]

This ENTIRE SITUATION IS UNACCPETABLE CASE CLOSED.

[cyborg]

I don't get how they looted a bus if the police TOLD them to take it.

[hillary's_fat_a**]

"They are not worried about us," said Makivia Horton, 22, who is five months pregnant.

I bet she can't wait another four months to get a jump in her welfare check!

[Tatze]

HEY! I is from Georgia and I speaks goodly, thank you muchly.

[todd1]

I live downtown and took the Metro Rail. Go to the east gate and tell them that you are with the Red Cross. They will let you in and then go to the Red Cross booth and sign in so you can get a wrist band. I went with my company but others told me that is how they did it. I think they are taking all the help they can get at this time.