Published: August 31, 2008 05:50 pm            

‘I’m tired of running from hurricanes’

Evacuees arrive in Cullman Sunday, Red Cross sets up shelters a day early

By Patrick McCreless

PATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM



HANCEVILLE — Sleeping on cots, depending on the kindness of strangers, leaving everything he has ever known behind him — up until few days ago, Aaron Halls was sure he was done with such things.

“We thought it was over,” Halls said. “We never thought this would happen so soon behind (Hurricane) Katrina. We just got our house together and now we have to leave everything again. I am tired of running from hurricanes.”

Halls was one of approximately 22 evacuees from in and around New Orleans who took up shelter from Hurricane Gustav Sunday at the Wallace State Community College Wellness Center. The tightknit group, many of whom are related and have lived in Louisiana for generations, drove themselves out of the disaster zone Saturday to find a place to stay.

“We stopped at hotels up and down and there was nothing,” said Ronald Brown. “We figured we’d have to be on the street. It just so happened that a lady at the Chevron here (Dodge City) said there might be something at the Red Cross. Somebody at the station called them up.”

Kenneth Kilgo, director of the Cullman County chapter of the American Red Cross said their first plan was to set up cots and supplies for the many evacuees who would probably be transported out of New Orleans Monday. Once Kilgo heard that some evacuees were already in Dodge City, however, the plan quickly changed.

Within a few hours, the Red Cross had the Wellness Center opened and over 1,000 cots ready for evacuees.

“We’ve registered them, given them all comfort kits,” Kilgo said.

As of Sunday evening, Kilgo said he did not know how many evacuees would be sent to Wallace State.

“We’ll know a whole lot more tomorrow (Monday),” he said.

Unlike the Hurricane Katrina evacuation in 2005, Kilgo said so far the Gustav evacuation has been much smoother.

“We’ve just got a better plan now,” Kilgo said. “FEMA and the national Red Cross have better coordination. We were given specific directions to provide shelter, food and nurses for medical needs. That’s Red Cross’s role.”

Kilgo said he was advised that the local Red Cross would have to hold the evacuees for at least 10 days.

“But we’ll stay until the last person is taken care of,” Kilgo said.

To Brown, Red Cross is a blessing.

“I respect them,” Brown said. “That’s the kind of organization we need. They never let go.”

During Hurricane Katrina, Halls said he and several members of his family did not leave and were trapped by the flooding. They spent six days in their carport before they were rescued.

“It’ll never happen again,” Halls said. “This time we just get up and go.”

Though they had to leave the majority of their possessions behind, Halls said his family was able to bring a small piece of New Orleans with them, specifically fresh, homemade gumbo.

“It’s hurricane gumbo, that’s what we call it,” Halls said with a laugh.

Like Halls, Brown and his fellow evacuees were in good spirits, despite their situation. Still, he could not help but worry about family members who had yet to leave and of the home where he had lived his whole life.

“We just hope and pray we got something to go home to,” Brown said.

For information on how you can help or donate to the Red Cross, call 734-0921.

        

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