Wednesday, August 31, 2005

The Scene at LSU'S Campus



On the way back to the PMAC in a cart, it looked like the scene in the movie Outbreak. FEMA officials, U.S. Marshalls, National Guard, and of course the survivors. Black Hawks were carrying in victims who were stranded on roofs. Buses rolled in from N.O. with other survivors. As Michael and I rode back to the PMAC, a lady fell out of her wheelchair and we scrambled to help her up.We met Coach Miles and Coach Moffiit in the PMAC to see all the survivors and it was the view of a hospital. Stretchers rolled in constantly and for the first time in my life I saw someone die right in front of me. A man rolled in from New Orleans and was badly injured on his head. 5 minutes later he was dead. And that was the scene all night. What did we do, we started hauling in supplies. And thousands of boxes of supplies. The CDC from Atlanta arrived directing us what to do. One of the U.S. Marshalls was on hand so the supplies could not become loot. I asked him what his primary job was. He serves on the committee of counter terrorism, but once he saw of the disaster, he donated his forces to come help. He said the death toll could be nearing 10,000. It was sickening to hear that. After unloading supplies, I started putting together baby cribs and then IV poles. Several of our fball players and Big Baby and Tasmin Mitchell helped us. At the same time, families and people strolled in. Mothers were giving birth in the locker rooms. The auxiliary gym "Dungeon" was being used as a morgue. I couldn't take myself down there to see it. I worked from 8 pm until 2:45 am. Before I left three more buses rolled in and they were almost out of room. People were standing outside, the lowest of the low from NO. The smells, the sights were hard to take.

A man lying down on a cot asked me to come see him. He said,"I just need someone to talk to, to tell my story because I have nobody and nothing left. He turned out to be a retired military veteran. His story was what everybody was saying. He thought he survived the worst, woke up this morning and the levees broke. Within minutes water rushed into his house. He climbed to the attic, smashed his way through the roof and sat there for hours. He was completely sunburned and exhausted. Nearly 12 hours later a chopper rescued him and here he was.

We finished the night hauling boxes of body bags and more were on the way. As we left, a man was strolled in on a stretcher and scarily enough he suffered gunshots. The paramedic said he was shot several times because a looter or a convict needed his boat and he wouldn't give it to him. Another man with him said it was "an uncivilized society no better than Iraq down there right now." A few minutes later he was unconcious and later pronounced dead. I then left as they were strolling a 3 year old kid in on a stretcher. I couldn't take it anymore. That was the scene at the PMAC and it gives me a new perspective on things. For those of you who I haven't been able to get in touch with because of phone service, I pray you are safe. Send me an email to let me know. God bless.
Bill Martin
LSU Sports Information--

6 comments:

Sarah said...

The pictures are of NO and are from the news...the email I got from my mother in law, and am happy to report that all our Louisiana loved ones are safe.

jayjay said...

Oh my, this is scary. Just hearing about whats going on over there, and seeing all the pics on the news here. Yes, I've been there too, and how close to home it can get then.
LORD

Tina said...

Thank you for posting this. It's so heartbreaking.

Virginia said...

My heart goes out to those people... I am especially feeling a bond(?)with all those new mommies, veteran mommies, and the ones having to deliver those new little ones in a locker room. I just can't even imagine.

I've been reading about babies that have severe diaper rashes because of the nasty sewage that they have been floating around in; babies that are starving because there is little clean water to mix formula with...

Anyways... thanks for posting this. May Jesus' arms bring comfort to these folks.

Jasmin said...

Hi Sarah,

I'm glad to hear that your family is safe; I'd wondered about them and the Carter's too...

On a completely different note, I like your blog!

Love, Jasmin

Goody said...

Thanks Sarah. I can hear your heart for all of the people who have been touched by this disaster.