More than 50 evacuees arrive in Omaha

OMAHA (AP) - Nearly five dozen evacuees arrived in Omaha Saturday from hurricane-ravaged Louisiana.

Four buses brought the 59 evacuees to a shelter at the Omaha Civic Auditorium after their plane landed at Eppley Airfield around noon.

The evacuees - some carrying plastic bags of belongings, some carrying pets - were greeted with hugs and handshakes from about 200 volunteers.

Fred Savage, 42, stepping outside after going through a medical screening said he was surprised to find himself in Omaha, but he was glad to be out of New Orleans.

"You couldn't pay me to go back," Savage said.

No one on the plane knew of their destination until shortly before the plan landed, he said.

Eight evacuees were taken immediately to Creighton University Medical Center, one was admitted and the rest were released, said Judy Peschio, executive director of the American Red Cross Heartland Chapter.

A few evacuees were taken by wheelchair into the auditorium, where a shelter had been set up since last weekend to house evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.

The state learned late Friday that four flights were scheduled to bring evacuees to Omaha, Gov. Dave Heineman's office said. But as of Saturday, Heineman's spokesman Aaron Sanderford said that only one more flight would arrive that night. He said he did not know how many people would be on board.

The evacuees would spend at least two nights at the auditorium, which was equipped with showers, phones, computers, and at least 400 cots, Peschio said.

After arriving at the auditorium, evacuees were given photo identification cards and would have immediate access to medical care and prescriptions, counseling and spiritual care, she said.

The Humane Society set up an air-conditioned tent outside the auditorium to care for five cats and four large dogs that had accompanied their owners on the plane.

Family counselors will work with the evacuees to determine their needs, and relief agencies would provide food, clothing and vouchers, Peschio said.

People who previously had lived in public housing will be referred to the Omaha Housing Authority, she said, and other evacuees will be working with other agencies to find housing if they choose to stay longer in Nebraska.

After a few nights in the auditorium, the evacuees likely will go to one of 200 area hotel rooms that have been reserved for two to four weeks, Peschio said.

Including Saturday's arrivals, about 600 people affected by Katrina have relocated to Nebraska, the Red Cross estimated.

Lincoln, Grand Island and other Nebraska cities are ready to house the evacuees, the cities' mayors and other officials have said.

"Nebraskans have opened their hearts," Heineman said Saturday, after welcoming the evacuees.

Several hours after arriving, a handful of evacuees went outside to take in their new surroundings and talk about their experiences.

Rick Mathieu, 49, and his neighbor, Earl Barthé Jr., 45, rode out the storm together and spent the next few days rounding up provisions and neighbors in a small boat. They were forced to leave by federal officials only a few days ago and spent Friday night at the airport awaiting a flight out of the city. But Mathieu wouldn't leave without someone instrumental to the pair's rescue operation - a pit bull-mix named Wedo. The dog, which belongs to his granddaughter, pulled the boat up and down the flooded streets of New Orleans, he said.

Both say they'll return to New Orleans to rebuild the city.

Savage sat near his neighbor from New Orleans, Richard Moss. They too rode out the storm together and stayed put until federal officials urged them to leave on Thursday, they said.

Savage said he appreciated the warm welcome and looked forward to resting up and getting some asthma medicine from relief workers in Omaha. One of his main concerns, which he already discussed with volunteers, is what happened to his mother, he said. She died of cancer shortly before the hurricane and was at a mortuary awaiting burial when the storm hit. Savage said he had no idea where his mother's body was but he hoped to find her to give her a proper burial.

Savage said he'll rest in Omaha before going to Ft. Worth, Texas, where his wife and stepchildren went shortly before the storm hit New Orleans.

But his neighbor, Moss, 48, said he planned to return to the city, where he has spent his entire life.

"You can have it, brother," Savage told him.