Operation Blessing helps local hero
|
Local hero, Cecil, stands in front of the Chalmette High School sign.
|
By Tara E. Smith
CHALMETTE, La –When Cecil of St. Bernard Parish decided to ride out Katrina's storm, little did he know he would become one of the local heroes, rescuing more than 80 people by boat in 12 to 14 feet of storm-driven water.
As Katrina made her way across the state, Cecil, 42 and a maintenance worker at Chalmette High School, remained with his family at the high school shelter on Judge Perez Drive– a shelter that would become an island of refuge for residents as the levee breached and flooded the community within minutes.
"We are just one of thousands of people that helped," Cecil said humbly. "The water came in real quick. We were in front of the school and the water was about three feet from the street. We got a phone call from a fireman in Arabi that the water came in over the levee, so we started moving people to the second floor. It rose six to eight feet in a matter of minutes," he said.
Cecil and his son, Blake, 20, took a boat and went out during the storm because they heard that two older people were trapped on their rooftops. But before they could get to them, the father and son team first discovered a lady and her three-year-old son trapped behind a house.
"The water was 12 to 14 feet high with the waves, and the wind was blowing over 60 miles per hour. You couldn't go against the current. You had to tie the boat to the light pole to get to the lady and children. And on some occasions, we tied the boat to houses," Cecil said. "I never feared for my life. I was thinking of getting people from where they were out to the shelter."
Like most residents in St. Bernard Parish, Cecil's home was severely damaged by more than five and a half feet of water. His roof and all his family's possessions were destroyed. With no flood insurance, Cecil was referred to Operation Blessing by Pastor Randy Millet of Adullam Christian Fellowship and director of City of Hope Disaster Relief Center.
When Operation Blessing learned of Cecil's plight, they sent a team of OBI volunteers to gut his home and begin the restoration process. In the meantime, Cecil is currently waiting for an electrical inspection.
|
Flood waters reached more than five feet in Cecil's home.
|
"I am in a FEMA mansion," Cecil said with a laugh. "Considering when your family members and friends had 14 feet of water, five feet isn't anything. If it wasn't for Operation Blessing and the church who helped gut my house, it wouldn't be done right now. Anytime people asked me to help with theirs, we would just put ours on hold," he said.
Cecil and his son Blake rescued more than 80 people on that horrific day. But he is quick to point out that they are not the only local heroes who emerged in the life-threatening situation.
"It wasn't just me. It was firemen, police, and everyday people. That was just one boat out of many that helped to rescue thousands of people. One great thing is that people left their keys and full tanks of gas in the boat. If it wasn't for the people doing that, no one would have been rescued at all. So in my mind, everyone in the parish is a hero for leaving keys and gas in a boat," he said.
For six days following Katrina, Cecil, his family, and more than a 1000 residents remained at the shelter until they were rescued.
"We survived on bread, water, and cereal that we hustled. Everybody got half cup of water. A lot of the guys took showers on top of the roof in the rain water. You are in survival mode."
How You Can Help
Operation Blessing has committed to staying in New Orleans until July 2007, but we need your partnership to make it happen.
Be a part of OBI's ongoing disaster relief efforts by making an
online donation to help those affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes. For volunteer opportunities click here.
|
]