Hurricane Stories

By Indykids Staff

The Rescue

There are many first-hand reports of various relief organizations being refused entry into New Orleans by bus and boat. Despite this, regular, everyday folks wanted to help. They illegally entered the city and helped save thousands of people.

Jabbor Gibson, 18 “jumped aboard the bus as it sat abandoned on a street in New Orleans and took control,” stated Houston NewsChannel 5. “The teen packed it full of complete strangers and drove to Houston.” The young man declared “I don’t care if I get blamed for it, as long as I saved my people.”

The Superdome

The Superdome sports arena was where 24,000 hurricane refugees stayed. People thought they could weather the storm in safety in the Superdome. But the ceiling broke open and hurricane winds tore off the roof. There was not enough food and water for everyone. Eventually, even the toilets were unusable. According to Malik Rahim, “People were told to go to the Superdome, but they have no food, no water there. And before they could get in, people had to stand in line for 4-5 hours in the rain because everybody was being searched one by one at the entrance.”

A Hospital

Bill Quigley was volunteering at Memorial Hospital, where his wife, Debbie, works as a doctor. They write, “The power went out early Monday. The sickest patients were evacuated by helicopter Sunday. As the hours and days wore on and no help came, floodwaters continued to rise. Medication and supplies ran out.” Quigley says he saw no National Guard, local or state police or security forces of any kind. Around midday on Thursday, air boats operated by private volunteers began arriving and taking four or five people at a time. The remaining hospital patients and staff, approximately 2000 people, were evacuated by citizen volunteers.”

Hurricane Stories excerpts from New Orleans Indymedia Kate_EP@hotmail.com