Arlington (TX) Couple Launches Own Rescue of N.O. Grandmad

Channel 4 News Fox? ^ | 09/03/05 | Self

[manic4organic]

Just saw on the local (D/FW) news about a couple that I know personally (former employee's parents) who launched their own rescue operation for her mom in N.O. I heard they were going to do this but just saw on the news. They flew to Baton Rouge, bought a boat, drove to N.O. and found grandma at home and brought her back. She didn't want to leave because of her cat, but they got her back safe with the help of other relatives.

[manic4organic]

Sorry, this is all I caught from the news. I searched for titles, names, etc., but got nothing. Their names are Maria and Carlos Cespedes. They're of Cuban ancestry and good people and I'm so happy they found their grandma! Talk about taking matters in to one's own hands.

[Keith in Iowa]

Wow.

Speechless.

[manic4organic]

Thanks. As soon as it's morning, I'm giving them a call of congratulations.

[JRios1968]

Pass along my "well done" wishes.

[Spktyr]

Did they bring the cat? (Since she's safe, that's a valid question).

[manic4organic]

I'll have to surpress a snicker if I ask about the cat.

[Spktyr]

:-P

[manic4organic]

Oh, and sorry, mods, could you please correct typo? She's probably not a Grandmad!

[2nd amendment mama]

Wonderful story! God Bless these people. Thank you for posting this.

[Route66]

I'm sure this private rescue is not an isolated case. Most who have gone back in have not talked much about it yet. One of the cable news people admitted to going back to her house, just for stuff. When she was asked how she got back into the area, she said "by hook or by crook". There are probably lots of boats for hire.

By the way, if she could do it, then the drug trade is probably back. That means the looters are able to exchange all that loot for what they really want. Both sides of that deal must be feeling like they hit the jackpot.

[AreaD]

So let me see if I got this right. These people came from Dallas I assume they drove, bought a boat ,rescued grandma and got her out of there. Does anyone else see the irony in this?

[GeronL]

They went back to Dallas, these people are obviously misguided... (just kidding)

[the invisib1e hand]

shades of Ross Perot, the IDF.

[mdittmar]

As a teacher of mine use to say,"hey,this ain't brain surgery".

They're family,go get 'em,hope the cat made it too.

[vox humana]

They are lucky the NO police or some FEMA idiot didn't confiscate their boat.

Private rescuers have to avoid the local, State, and Federal authorities as well as the armed gangs.

[Mrs Zip]

ping

[claudiustg]

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Oh, and sorry, mods, could you please correct typo? She's probably not a Grandmad!

Sounds like if they left the cat behind she is.

[pbear8]

Hmmmm...maybe I should have posted this email I got sooner.

THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES HAS RECENTLY FORWARDED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE REGARDING REQUESTS FOR RESCUE FROM VICTIMS OF KATRINA AND HAS ASKED US TO PASS THE INFORMATION ALONG. ALTHOUGH, THIS HAS BEEN ASKED BY THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IT WOULD BE RELEVANT INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE USA. THEIR REQUEST STATES THE FOLLOWING:

State OES has learned that trapped victims on the Gulf Coast are calling family, friends, loved-ones, or anyone they can get a call out to in California asking for someone to rescue them. These requests need to go immediately to the US Coast Guard's Rescue Line at 800-323-7233 and immediate assistance will be sent.

Please distribute this information as widely as possible.

[jwpjr]

I couldn't help but wonder as I watched rescue after rescue by military helicopters why there were not more boats being used, especially air boats. That area of Louisiana abounds with air boats and other boats designed to operate in the shallow waters of bayous. Many of the people I saw being picked up by helicopter were being lifted from street level, not roof tops. The very first rescue scenes showed people being taken off roofs, but after that everyone was at ground level.