My Katrina: Part 15

Previously: We woke up to a lot of shootin’. We were on the new side of the project and the shootin’ was on the old side. It sounded like wartime in Saudi Arabia. They was firing automatic guns. Some people that was out in the water told us like 20 boys was shootin’ at the National Guards, who told them on a megaphone to surrender the guns or they was comin’ up to get ‘em theyself. The National Guards had shields, stun guns, and bullet proof vests. That’s what really made me get shake up. ‘Cause remember we got families sleeping on the balconies. A bullet can come from anywhere and get someone. I know too many people rocked to sleep by stray bullets.
I called Calio on the radio and said, “We gotta find a way to get these folks outa here.”
He respond back, “You right, man, too much goin’ on here now.”
But deep in my mind, I was thinkin’ I still want to do more traveling through my hometown to see who else need help.
I told Calio to call KK because I wanted another friend with us in the boat.
We left some homeboys on standby at the projects to look over everyone, to make sure everyone be okay while we go out.
In the projects where we stayin’ at, they have more men than women, so we counting on the men to take care of the women. We had some strong women helping also. The women saying, “We want to help too and make sure our babies safe.”
So me, Calio and KK paddle down Saint Charles Avenue—where the rich folks live—to Canal St and the poorer area.
Previously the National Guards had told us we couldn’t go no farther than around the Superdome. So I figure out another way to go.
Once we got to Canal St, the water kind of low, so we left the boat to go check out Seventh Ward, where my cousins and friends and KK aunts and cousins live. They all in between middle class and poor. Farther down is where some wind can blow away the houses, they so poor.
The water start comin’ up on us. That’s when I found out Calio and KK could swim. Not good like me, but they made it to this really high porch to go stand on. There was no place else to go.
So we all huddlin’ together on this little bitty porch and a man pass near in a motorboat. A motorboat, like you go out on the lake with! We all scared and hollering. KK took off his wet t-shirt and flagged the man down.
He invited us onto the boat. He had two sets of families with kids under blankets. I think maybe he kidnap the people, ‘cause a whole lot of crime takin’ place.
He asked, “Where you from? Where you heading?”
I told him we originally from uptown and we trying to go downtown to help folks. Come to find out the guy truly helping people too.
He asked, “Y’all want to stay with me and help get some families outa here? It’s something the government oughta be doin’.”
We say, “Sure.”
After we ridin’ around awhile, the man got to this big ol’ hotel where people was hangin’ out the window. A few National Guards around there give us water and food to hand out.
There was floods over the roof of the houses. After we seen that I told Calio, “We wouldn’t’ve made it there with our boat, we’d be dead.” The water hittin’ the man’s windshield real hard now.
It looked like we’d lost the war in Viet Nam. People all up in the chimneys, cryin’, holding signs. The houses leanin’ in the water. The farther down we go the more damage we see.
When I seen all that I say, “Aghhhh, like man. What is goin’ on?”
The old man driving the boat say, “I can’t go this way because that’s where the levee is, the one they say bust open with all this water.”
Meanwhile helicopters are all up brrrm brrrm, circling above. It not raining too much but we hear whoooshh like waves was crashing through tunnels. Deep waves was hitting the boat.
It remind me of “Jaws.” That’s how the hurricane was chasin’ people. No shark behind them, but with the wind and water, they life was on the line.
We can’t get to them folks on the roofs. They be sentenced to death up there. To be continued . . .