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Last Day at the Coliseum
Stories from the Rapides Parish Coliseum shelter (1300 population)
Written by: Katie Lally-Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer from Colorado Spring, CO
Story 1
This afternoon 13 school buses arrived at the Rapides Parish Coliseum to take weary Hurricane Gustav evacuees back home to St. Charles Parish. It was a day full of smiles and thank yous to the American Red Cross volunteers. Geraldine Turley arrived from Luling at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday morning with 29 of her family members. Asked about the safe haven at the Coliseum she said, “It was a blessing. Ya’ll saved our life, that’s for sure.” Geraldine was evacuated during Hurricane Katrina and was sheltered at the New Rhodes Red Cross shelter, New Rhodes, LA in 2005. She was impressed with all that was offered then and said this one was different because this time the hurricane hit the shelter in Alexandria. “Power was out and it was scary. But the Red Cross volunteers were wonderful – they had so much patience and gave us so much attention. We were just fine.” Along with hundreds of sheltered clients, Geraldine is looking forward to going home today. “I have 60 grandchildren, and 22 greats; it’s time for all of us to get back together.”
Story 2
Cong Doan moved to Terrebonne Parish just one month ago to help take care of his elderly father. His wife, father, and six children evacuated and ended up in Alexandria last Saturday to ride out Hurricane Gustav. This afternoon he and his family are one of the last remaining residents of the Rapides Coliseum Red Cross shelter. “We drove here, but it’s not safe to return to our parish yet.” He already knows that his home in Terrebonne Parish is severely damaged. Under the circumstances, you wouldn’t expect him to still be smiling. Asked how his experience has been the last few days, Doan replied, “I came here with minimal expectations – and they were greatly exceeded. The Red Cross volunteers had so much patience. I don’t care about any stories I’ve been told – this is the first time I’ve dealt with the Red Cross and they were wonderful. There are a lot of very, very nice volunteers.” Asked whether there were any issues at the Coliseum,
Doan responded by saying, “some people wanted this to be the Club Med.
We’re surviving here and this is luxury to me – my family has a roof over their heads, cots to sleep on, and 3 meals a day. We’re making it work.” Doan says that when his kids are a little older that he and his wife want to become Red Cross volunteers.
To make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), visit the Red Cross Web site at redcross.org or contact your local chapter.
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