Everymans Nightmare.

I received a call from our Fire Chief last Sat. night at about midnight.  He told me to get to the training center and get the other new guys to meet me there.  I got to the training center and left for Camp Gruber just outside of Muskogee OK.  Over 2,000 refugees were on there way and they didn't have enough emergency medical support to help with all the emergencies.  So they called us in. 

It had just finished raining when we got there and it was muddy and cool.  The very first bus pulls up and the very first lady off the bus collapses.  Her blood sugar was out of control because she hadn't had her insulin in days.  She died almost immediately and they were unable to bring her back.  The buses had to make several stops along the way so that ambulances could come and get bodies off of the buses.  One man hadn't had his dialysis in 8 days and several others were in really bad shape because they hadn't had any medical attention for some time. 

Most of these people had been on buses for almost 48 hours and had nothing but the clothes on their backs and whatever they might be able to carry.  Which was usually just their children.  We gave them food, blankets and medical attention.  They told us that this was the first time that anyone had even addressed them as people let alone be kind to them.  It was a terrible thing to see.  We got them all checked in and moved into the barracks where they could, for the first time in days, sleep in a real bed. 

Many of them had come from the stadium in New Orleans where they said it was like living a nightmare.  People were dying from disease all over the place and others were being robbed, raped, and killed.  They were so happy to be in Braggs OK, which they had never heard of and where many of them will never leave. 

Most of them were black, with the occasional lower class white individual.  It makes me so angry to hear people say, "Well they were warned, they should have just left".  If you had seen these people you would realize how incredibly arrogant and ignorant that is.  These people are a direct product of systematic oppression and there was no way in hell they could have left.  Now what they had has been destroyed.  I am glad that I could be there to help them and I was moved by the kindness of the other volunteers.  But it is days like those that remind me how insanely hard it is for me to believe in a person God who wants good things for his "children". 

I hope good things for those beautiful and lonely people.

Comments

[Amanda]

Adam,
I think it is incredible that you are able to help these people and show them that their life actually mattered, even though it has to be the hardest thing to witness so much despair and hopelessness.
While I was in Philadelphia with the same class of people, I learned the hard reality that the government wanted that part of the city to literally die off. They did nothing to help people who were in horrible situations, and even critized and interrogated those of us who would lend a hand. It was sad seeing these people who are actually amazing people, being treated like stray animals.
We should not be questioning why those people didn't leave, it is obvious that they couldn't. We should be pissed that help wasn't there the minute after Katrina hit. The people in New Orleans weren't the only ones aware of it's arrival and the severity it was bound to bring.
Again, I am so glad there are people who are willing to stretch out their arms and help. Truly amazing.

[Kevin]

Maybe some of those people will buy some of the folks from New Orleans cars, so the next time there's a disaster they'll be able to leave.

[Nicole]

Are the churches in Muskogee helping out? Cause if they aren't, I need to call a friend who is a youth pastor at one and bitch at him.

[Adam]

I didn't see any there but the press wasn't even being allowed in at that time so I'm not sure if any came later.

[matt]

Thanks for being there, Adam. I am sure your presence brought hope.

[Scott Jones]

Thanks for sharing your story Adam.

[Jennifer]

Hey Adam, thanks for caring about those precious people and taking care of them the best you're able to. As a fellow refugee from New Orleans, I appreciate it. Peace.

[Jamin Garoutte]

Hey! Good to see you again! It's been an incredibly long time... I'm interested in how the job is goin'.... been thinkin' about volunteering for the local fire department... let me know what it's like or any advice you got!

[Adam]

Jamin,

How are you brother? I think its fantastic that you are thinking about volunteering. It is one of the most satisfying things that I have ever done. I just spent about two weeks in class with some volunteers and they are great people. It's a lot of work and it can be very dangerous. But if that doesn't bother you then you should definately do it. You can email me if you have any other questions.

[Esther]

It makes me angry when crimes can still be commited during harsh times.

I hope it's over soon.