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Texarkana pilot witnesses alligators in New Orleans
Don Ruggles may forever have a vision of an alligator trying to get into the attic of a flooded New Orleans home.
It was recorded on videotape while Ruggles was piloting one of his helicopters in the rescue efforts of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
It was recorded on videotape while Ruggles was piloting one of his helicopters in the rescue efforts of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Ruggles is the owner of Helicopters Southwest of Texarkana, Ark., and has been hired by FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the EPA and law enforcement agencies. He is flying rescue missions and documenting the damage and problem areas for the federal agencies.
"To see the horrible destruction of homes, highways, bridges, industry and the horror of people trying to be rescued is to literally be sick in the heart, mind and soul," said Ruggles.
...
"It's a horrible situation. We saw several alligators in the neighborhoods and one was swimming into the top of the home where likely people could be there trying to save themselves," Ruggles said. "There are rats, bats, snakes, large fish, and of course the alligators swimming around in the top of the homes and attics."
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2005/09/03/local_news/news/news07.txt
As alligators attacked, Hank Finney swam from house to house trying to save his neighbors in New Orleans. Finney is now safe here in San Antonio. News 4 WOAI's Demond Fernandez has the story of an incredible hurricane hero. Click here to watch…
Bandages and bruises sum up Finney's story of survival in Louisiana.
“It's been hell, man. It's been hell,” says Finney. “Dead bodies all over the place. Old people can't get out. No water. The stench of the smell of the city is just murder on people.”
Alligators almost killed Finney. They attacked while he was saving neighbors along New Orleans flooded streets.
“I was fighting off alligators – four foot alligators. Beating them off. They were tearing up a dead body, and I was just trying to beat them off. When I fell off, I scuffed myself up trying to get back in the boat because they were coming after me,” Kinney told WOAI.
Finney kept fighting because his neighbors kept calling.
“People hollering, ‘Can you help me? Can you help me?’” recalls Finney. “But you can only help so many because you've got a boat load of people.”
The bites caused serious infection, but Finney's going to be okay with anti-biotics. He's just glad he helped as many people as he could.
"To see the horrible destruction of homes, highways, bridges, industry and the horror of people trying to be rescued is to literally be sick in the heart, mind and soul," said Ruggles.
...
"It's a horrible situation. We saw several alligators in the neighborhoods and one was swimming into the top of the home where likely people could be there trying to save themselves," Ruggles said. "There are rats, bats, snakes, large fish, and of course the alligators swimming around in the top of the homes and attics."
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2005/09/03/local_news/news/news07.txt
As alligators attacked, Hank Finney swam from house to house trying to save his neighbors in New Orleans. Finney is now safe here in San Antonio. News 4 WOAI's Demond Fernandez has the story of an incredible hurricane hero. Click here to watch…
Bandages and bruises sum up Finney's story of survival in Louisiana.
“It's been hell, man. It's been hell,” says Finney. “Dead bodies all over the place. Old people can't get out. No water. The stench of the smell of the city is just murder on people.”
Alligators almost killed Finney. They attacked while he was saving neighbors along New Orleans flooded streets.
“I was fighting off alligators – four foot alligators. Beating them off. They were tearing up a dead body, and I was just trying to beat them off. When I fell off, I scuffed myself up trying to get back in the boat because they were coming after me,” Kinney told WOAI.
Finney kept fighting because his neighbors kept calling.
“People hollering, ‘Can you help me? Can you help me?’” recalls Finney. “But you can only help so many because you've got a boat load of people.”
The bites caused serious infection, but Finney's going to be okay with anti-biotics. He's just glad he helped as many people as he could.
For more information:
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?...
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