Tales of Loss and Hope

Katrina "Evacuees" Take Refuge at Reese

Giovanni Rosendo, associate editor

 

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina has claimed many days and innocent lives.

This has been the biggest natural disaster in United States history.  The increase in gas prices has been phenomenal; but what’s even more memorable is the strength that has been shown by thousands of people.  The states surrounding the areas that were hit opened their doors.

From arenas to homes, many of these evacuees found shelter as soon as transportation was available.

Lubbock prepared in aiding at least 1,000 evacuees by equipping the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum and the Reese Technology Center with the proper supplies to reassure stability back in their lives.  Inside both buildings were rows of inflatable beds with covers.  Although the Coliseum never had any inhabitants, the Reese center did.  In order to even get in the vicinity of the hanger, where the evacuees were located on campus, one had to acquire a photo I.D. badge.  Once arriving at the front of the hanger there is a security guard who checks for the badge.  Inside the hanger, past the beds are booths with Covenant nurses and American Red Cross volunteers.  There is also an outside area where the bathrooms, buses, basketball hoops and smoking area are.  There are also several policemen located around the building who keep watch for anything suspicious.

Among those who fled homes in Louisana and wound up at Reece Center is Reverend Charles Thomas.  Thomas, 37, was a facility attendant at the Earnest North Morial Convention Center.  He and his family were lucky enough to stay in contact with all 22 members, including extended family, in the greater New Orleans area.

Thomas mentioned that before Katrina, things were going very well at his job and his life was basically normal with a “nice home and vehicle.”

The Thomas family made it out of New Orleans well, but had problems along the way. 

Volunteering at the Convention Center required Thomas to live there.

“After the hurricane passed, they started sending evacuees in there, and that’s when it started getting all bad and everything,” said Thomas.  “They started trashing up the place and doing some terrible things.” 

Thomas added that not all people are like those shown on television who were shooting others. 

He and his family arrived on the first plane in Lubbock on Sept. 4.  They originally were destined for Corpus Christie, Texas but were informed that they were being rerouted due to overcrowding.  The only belongings they claimed were those accumulated at the shelter they came from.

Thomas continued by commending the American Red Cross and people of Lubbock saying that they are number one. 

“I thank God for the American Red Cross, and I thank God for the people of Lubbock, because they have done things that are tremendously helping us,” said Thomas.

Although Thomas and his family don’t have much, the opportunity to start anew has risen.  They found an apartment in Lubbock and plan on being there a long period of time. Their apartment will be fully furnished.  His children are already enrolled in the Lubbock Independent School District. 

He has had several job offers, but he said he is being conservative and waiting for the Job Fair.

Thomas plans on going back to New Orleans when time permits, but not any time soon, he said.

Everyone who experienced Katrina’s wrath has a story to tell.

Riley Toliver, 55, sat on his roof for six days until he was finally rescued.  He mentioned that dead bodies were constantly floating by his house and crime seemed to increase with the passing hours.

Toliver was also upset that he had to leave his precious dog.  He said he may remain in Lubbock or move to Dallas.

Eddie Turner, 40, woke up the day of the hurricane to the sound of running water. 

He arose and noticed there was water seeping through the doorframe.  As soon as he opened the door, water rushed into his bedroom. 

Turner spent eight days on his neighbor’s porch and ran out of food and water within days.  At night, he could see the flickering of flashlights on canoes that rowed by.  Alligators surrounded them and bit at people.  He even saw one eat a poodle. 

People were restless and chaos spread fast, with looting and an unlimited amount of violence.  

Turner’s eye was caught when he saw a man and woman who fought over a bag of ice.  The man soon shot the woman in the back of her head. 

Turner explained that the lingering smell in the air was a “mixture of death, sewage, and rotting food.”  The smell burned his nose with every breath he took. 

Turner is a father of six and has been unable to contact any of his children or relatives.  He surfs on a website made for survivors of Hurricane Katrina everyday in hopes of finding a link to any of his family members. 

Turner said he will be going back to New Orleans to help rebuild the city that he loves.

Michael Herring, 51, was a welder and also resided at the Reese Center.

Before Katrina hit, he “had a real wonderful life, beautiful family, beautiful home and all that.”

When Herring got off of work on Sunday, prior to the storm, he attempted to get gas but all the gas stations he went to were sold out.  People had been swarming to the pumps all day trying to fill up their vehicles in order to flee the city that would soon be hit by Katrina.

When the hurricane hit, Herring was in his home that soon became flooded, and he had to swim out to a couple of firefighters in a boat.  Once rescued, he had to wait until the water diminished in order to overcome his main concern which was to reach his wife and kids who were at his in-laws at the time.  Once the water was low enough to walk through, his next concern was to find shelter for his family.  Herring soon led his family to an old health care building for the elderly.

“I confiscated that home and took my wife and kids and 12 of my other people to that building, and that’s where we were until they evacuated us out of New Orleans,” said Herring.

Though most of his family is scattered now throughout the U.S., he has been able to contact all family members.

 “Everyone is doing fine and I thank God for that,” said Herring.

Though Lubbock certainly is not home Herring said, the American Red Cross has done everything they can to accommodate him.

The Herring family flew out Saturday to Georgia, where his sister-in-law lives.  Herring plans on staying there a while, but added that “I was born there, and when my day is up, I’d rather be buried there.  So yes, I will return to New Orleans.”

To raise his spirits, Herring borrows hair clippers to cut kids’ hair as they prepare for school.

“I just feel a little helpless right about now,” said Herring.

He and his family also enjoyed a night out of games and dinner at The Caboose in Lubbock.

Herring also sends his blessings out to everyone that has helped along the way, mentioning that everything has been handled very professionally.

As for his life in New Orleans, Herring added, “It’ll take us a while, but we’ll get it back.”  Herring can’t wait until the rebuilding of his city, saying that everything will be 10 times better than it was before.

(Plainsman Press Staff member Heather Smith also contributed to this article).