Lockdown of New Orleans Superdome Eased
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
NEW ORLEANS — Before spending a second night in the dank, cavernous Superdome (search), some refugees from Hurricane Katrina (search) lined up for a snatch of something they hadn't had in many hours: fresh air.
"Oh God, fresh air, it's so wonderful. It's the first time I've wanted to breath all day," said Robin Smith, 33. "When you think what we could've gone through, it's not too bad in there. But it's certainly not as wonderful as this."
National Guardsmen began letting people take a walk on the large walkway surrounding the dome Monday night. They made sure they didn't leave, though.
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Outside, Shanda Wilson, 29, marveled at the sight of the city with no electricity. "I've never seen it like this. I've never seen this much darkness."
For an estimated 8,000 to 9,000 refugees — many of them poor and frail — the Superdome was a welcome shelter from Katrina, but a miserable one at the same time.
The bathrooms were filthy, barrels overflowed with trash and water pressure was dwindling. With the air conditioning off when power went out Monday morning, the bricks were slick with humidity.
"Everybody wants to go see their house. We want to know what's happened to us. It's hot, it's miserable and, on top of that, you're worried about your house," said Rosetta Junne, 37.
The situation was especially difficult for the frail and elderly in wheelchairs, who were lined up in rows five deep along a wall. One patient's IV bag was attached to a stadium seating sign.
Officials were considering moving the patients to areas with better accommodations.
"This is just too hot, too primitive, too uncomfortable for the patients and too hard to work in for the medical people," said Dr. Kevin Stephens Sr., head of the medical shelter in the Superdome.
Two people have died, according to Doug Thornton, a regional vice president for the company that manages the Superdome. He provided no other details.
The refugees spent Monday sitting in the seats of the 77,000-seat stadium — home of the NFL's New Orleans Saints — or sprawled out on blankets and towels on the floor. They played cards and read books and magazines in areas where the emergency lights worked. Refugees were given two meals a day.
Katrina ripped two holes in the curved roof when the storm barreled through the city, letting in rain. Water also was leaking in through many other areas, including elevators and stairwells.
Superdome and government emergency officials stressed that they did not expect the huge roof to fail because of the relatively small breaches caused by Katrina's winds.
"I was OK until that roof fell off," said 82-year-old Anice Sexton. "I was terrified then. Otherwise it hasn't been too bad. People are so nice and the people staying here have really been cooperative. But the washrooms are terrible."
The Superdome opened its doors at noon Sunday, and New Orleans' most frail residents were allowed in first. Residents lined up for blocks as National Guardsman searched them for guns, knives and drugs.
Dr. Thuong Vo was on his honeymoon in New Orleans with his pregnant wife when they were taken to the Superdome. Vo has been treating people during the day and sleeping on the concrete floor at night with his wife.
"It's certainly been an eventful honeymoon," he said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167653,00.html
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
NEW ORLEANS — Before spending a second night in the dank, cavernous Superdome (search), some refugees from Hurricane Katrina (search) lined up for a snatch of something they hadn't had in many hours: fresh air.
"Oh God, fresh air, it's so wonderful. It's the first time I've wanted to breath all day," said Robin Smith, 33. "When you think what we could've gone through, it's not too bad in there. But it's certainly not as wonderful as this."
National Guardsmen began letting people take a walk on the large walkway surrounding the dome Monday night. They made sure they didn't leave, though.
•
Outside, Shanda Wilson, 29, marveled at the sight of the city with no electricity. "I've never seen it like this. I've never seen this much darkness."
For an estimated 8,000 to 9,000 refugees — many of them poor and frail — the Superdome was a welcome shelter from Katrina, but a miserable one at the same time.
The bathrooms were filthy, barrels overflowed with trash and water pressure was dwindling. With the air conditioning off when power went out Monday morning, the bricks were slick with humidity.
"Everybody wants to go see their house. We want to know what's happened to us. It's hot, it's miserable and, on top of that, you're worried about your house," said Rosetta Junne, 37.
The situation was especially difficult for the frail and elderly in wheelchairs, who were lined up in rows five deep along a wall. One patient's IV bag was attached to a stadium seating sign.
Officials were considering moving the patients to areas with better accommodations.
"This is just too hot, too primitive, too uncomfortable for the patients and too hard to work in for the medical people," said Dr. Kevin Stephens Sr., head of the medical shelter in the Superdome.
Two people have died, according to Doug Thornton, a regional vice president for the company that manages the Superdome. He provided no other details.
The refugees spent Monday sitting in the seats of the 77,000-seat stadium — home of the NFL's New Orleans Saints — or sprawled out on blankets and towels on the floor. They played cards and read books and magazines in areas where the emergency lights worked. Refugees were given two meals a day.
Katrina ripped two holes in the curved roof when the storm barreled through the city, letting in rain. Water also was leaking in through many other areas, including elevators and stairwells.
Superdome and government emergency officials stressed that they did not expect the huge roof to fail because of the relatively small breaches caused by Katrina's winds.
"I was OK until that roof fell off," said 82-year-old Anice Sexton. "I was terrified then. Otherwise it hasn't been too bad. People are so nice and the people staying here have really been cooperative. But the washrooms are terrible."
The Superdome opened its doors at noon Sunday, and New Orleans' most frail residents were allowed in first. Residents lined up for blocks as National Guardsman searched them for guns, knives and drugs.
Dr. Thuong Vo was on his honeymoon in New Orleans with his pregnant wife when they were taken to the Superdome. Vo has been treating people during the day and sleeping on the concrete floor at night with his wife.
"It's certainly been an eventful honeymoon," he said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167653,00.html
