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Lost in Houston, Found the Red Cross
Written by
Glenda Plunkett
, Special to Redcross.org
Thursday, September 08, 2005 — HOUSTON – Shawn Jacob, 27, hails from Seminol Parish in New Orleans and always considered himself blessed.
All of his life he heard threats of impending destruction from hurricanes and had been instructed many times to evacuate the city. The devastating storms always seemed to pass by New Orleans – happening elsewhere – and so he did not take the initial warnings about Katrina seriously.
But, this time would be different. This time his home, his family and his town would be affected by a hurricane building strength and speed in the Gulf.
Almost too late, 5 a.m. Saturday, August 27, he and a friend decided that they needed to evacuate. They drove to Houston to a small hotel, thinking they would take shelter there for a couple of days and then return home.
While there, they decided to pick up a few things from the store, where he and his friend were separated. Despite desperately trying to locate her, he found himself suddenly alone. Jacob walked for hours trying to find the hotel but couldn’t remember its name.
“I was scared. I was alone. I wanted my family. I wanted my neighbors. I wanted my people,” said Jacob.
When he saw a police officer, he asked for help but attempts to reunite him with his friend failed. Out of options, he was taken to the Houston Astrodome, which was being prepared to be a shelter for the Red Cross.
“I never before used the Red Cross. I knew they did good things, but I never saw it first hand,” he said. “I needed a roof over my head, and they welcomed me. I needed to cry, and they listened. They fed me. I needed help. I was desperate. They didn’t turn me away.”
When asked what his first impression was of the Red Cross, Jacob simply replied, “Beautiful!”
Glenda Plunkett is with the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross. She is a member of the Red Cross Rapid Response Team currently deployed to Houston.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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