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FLORIDA
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METRO (DC-MD-VA-NY) |
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Communities>
Louisiana > New Orleans |
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Philippine Official Escapes Danger |
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Katrina
as it heads to the Gulf on Aug. 28, 2005
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BASTA PINOY NEWS --“The building was shaking at saka
umu-ugong. Umu-uga talaga yung building,” recalls
Philippine Honorary Consul General Cielo Martinez
when hurricane Katrina made landfall 70 miles from
Metarie, Louisiana. “I have never seen anything like
it. Sa atin malakas yung hangin, yung ulan, pero ito
iba, tornado.”
The previous day, Aug. 28th, New Orleans Mayor Ray
Nagin ordered the mandatory evacuation of the city.
“Naging serious na ang systematic evacuation --
areas of the city took turns leaving the city.”
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Her family proceeded to Lakeside Hospital in Metarie
where husband Dr. Roberto Martinez worked. “My
family stayed in a room on the third floor of the
hospital.”
Early morning of Aug. 29th Katrina made landfall.
“Sa labas nakikita yung mga puno talagang tumutumba
na. The wind was howling. It was deafening. It was
very scary.”
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SWALLOWING THE GULF COAST. Katrina make landfall on
South Plaquemines Parish, La., near Empire, Buras
and Boothville where Hurricane Katrina made landfall
on Aug. 29, 2005, at approximately 7:10 a.m. EDT.
(Photo: NOAA) |
That afternoon Dr. Martinez told his family to
evacuate but he had to stay. “Sabi niya hindi siya
talaga makakasama sa amin, kami na lang daw, kasi
kailangan siya sa hospital support system. The
patients need them.”
Consul Martinez left with their three children but
was forced to turn back. “Umalis na kami, pero hindi
kami makalabas, parang maze sa labas, may flood na.
Bumalik kami.” Later that evening as the situation
deterioriated everyone was forced to evacuate.
“Wala nang choice, marami nang crime happening.
Nagmamadali talaga kami umalis dahil we were given a
couple of hours to leave, dahil may pumapasok na
hindi na taga-hospital. Mayroon wristband kami, para
alam nila taga-doon ka. May security, pero wala ka
nang magagawa.”
The Martinez family took their car and left with
other hospital doctors. “We left in a caravan for
safety, so we can fight by the numbers. At least
kasama na namin siya (husband Roberto). Kung naiwan
siya doon, magulong-magulo na.”
“Marami kaming nakitang may baril. At saka
kitang-kita namin yung mga naglu-loot, binabasag
nila yung mga salamin.”
“We have to drive parang maze, parang trial and
error na you go into a street then hindi pwede, so
you turn around until makakita ng clear street.” The
caravan traversed the streets, encountering flood,
fallen trees, broken glass and dangling wires from
utility poles. It was total darkness. “We drove on
top of the levee which was the only dry part. Para
talagang nasa maze -- you just keep on trying.” |
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LANDFALL.
View of South Plaquemines Parish, La., near Empire,
Buras and Boothville where Hurricane Katrina made
landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, at approximately 7:10
a.m. EDT. (Photo: NOAA) |
The Martinez family reached Chicago the following
day.
Consul Martinez has been trying to reach her
assistant Shiela who she last spoke with on Aug.
27th. “Nagte-text ako at tumawag ako sa kanya pero
walang sagot. She told me her family will evacuate
to Houston, pero no word from her as yet. Alam ko
yung subdivision nila binaha.”
Katrina could turn out to be the most destructive
hurricane in U.S. history in terms of property and
economic damage its fury sparing none on its path.
“Yung bahay ko under water. Its less than two miles
dun sa nag-break na levee.”
“My message to Filipinos affected in Louisiana is to
contact the Philippine Consulate in Chicago for
assistance.”
Louisiana is under the jurisdiction of Consul
General Blesilda Cabrera. Consul Martinez is closely
coordinating with ConGen Cabrera and Consul Patrick
Hillado.
“The Consulate website has been setup for those
affected to post their names, city, and state where
they come from and remarks as to their status so
their relatives will know,” said Consul Hillado. “Kasi
marami ang hindi makatawag sa pamilya.”
The Chicago
Philippine Consulate website is www.chicagopcg.com
“Sa ngayon ang priority natin ay ma-reach yung
affected na Filipinos. We are coordinating with the
Philippine Embassy on all efforts,” said ConGen
Cabrera. “We will keep on trying our very best to
get in touch with Filipinos in the affected areas.”
(Basta Pinoy News) |
Bataan Assisting in Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
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Gulf of
Mexico (Aug. 30, 2005) – An MH-53E Sea Dragon
helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Mine
Countermeasures Squadron Fifteen (HM-15), takes off
from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship
USS Bataan (LHD 5) to assist with Hurricane Katrina
relief efforts in the New Orleans area. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s
Mate Airman Jeremy L. Grisham (RELEASED)
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USS BATAAN, Gulf of Mexico (NNS) -- The multipurpose
amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) was
tasked Aug. 30 to assist with Hurricane Katrina
disaster relief efforts.
Two MH-60 search and rescue helicopters from
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HC) 28, based out of
Norfolk, Va., launched at 5 p.m. CST Aug. 30 to
assist in the search and rescue efforts that are
currently ongoing in and around the New Orleans
area.
At 6:30 p.m. CST, two MH-53 helicopters from
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15,
based out of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi,
Texas, also flew off Bataan to assist with efforts
in the New Orleans area.
Bataan is currently underway in the Gulf of Mexico
approximately 100 miles South of New Orleans. The
ship’s involvement in humanitarian assistance
operations is an effort by the Department of Defense
in support of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA).
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