Evacuees settling into temporary home in S.D. | Red Cross helps those brought by local exec

San Diego Union Tribune
Amy Oakes
STAFF WRITER | The Associated Press contributed to this story.
6 September 2005

On their first full day in San Diego, a group of Hurricane Katrina victims flown to San Diego by a wealthy businessman rested, shopped and were treated to a barbecue.

They were to spend last night at a downtown hotel in rooms paid for by David Perez. The chief operating officer of Surge Global Energy in San Diego also had funded their flight, shuttle buses to take them to a nearby discount store and yesterday's dinner.

"We're being treated real well," said Victoria Vaughn, who came with her family. "We have food, shelter and clothing."

Vaughn and 81 other evacuees arrived Sunday evening on a Boeing 737 from Baton Rouge, La. They were bused to Kearny High School in Kearny Mesa where the Red Cross had set up a temporary shelter for the night.

Yesterday morning, Red Cross officials met with the families to assess their needs. They also are working with the San Diego Unified School District to enroll the children.

A Red Cross spokeswoman said the organization was working with Perez to coordinate efforts. The organization was prepared to provide temporary housing.

"This is a different situation for us," said Cathy Sang with the Red Cross. "We have never had an individual come in and do this."

Perez said he felt compelled to take action after seeing images of the storm's devastation. He donated money to relief efforts after Sept. 11 and last year's tsunami, but this time he wanted to get actively involved, he said.

He scrapped a planned family vacation to Taos, New Mexico, and contacted Executive Jet Services. He spent about $250,000 to rent a plane and take supplies to Louisiana and bring back whoever was willing to leave.

Perez said he plans to fly to Louisiana today with three planes stocked with supplies.

"I could act quicker than FEMA," he said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

People all over the country hoping to volunteer have expressed frustration with FEMA. Some, including Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, have bypassed the agency to get supplies and services to the hurricane victims.

Perez, 42, said others have responded to his efforts and gotten involved. People have contacted him to donate cars, homes, supplies and money.

He said he spent most of yesterday working to coordinate the relief efforts. He stopped by Kearny High yesterday afternoon to talk to evacuees.

"I'm their host," Perez said. "I want to make sure they are well taken care of."

The Red Cross had provided showers, meals, health care and even a birthday party in their first 24 hours in San Diego. Victoria Vaughn's son Darnaine Mitchell celebrated his 10th birthday with a chocolate cake.

The boy described the shelter as "all right" and said he missed playing Pro BMX 2 on his X-box video game system.

Vaughn said her family, who fled Jefferson Parish just before the hurricane, may stay in San Diego. She plans to look for a house and a job.

"I'm going to see how things work out," she said. "I was looking for a new beginning."

Hundreds of families fleeing Louisiana were expected to arrive in the state this past weekend. Emergency officials in Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco were preparing to host evacuees.

It was not known how many could eventually end up in California.

The plane Perez rented had the capacity to bring back 175 people, said Daniel Miller, who is helping the local businessman's efforts.

"A lot of people were hesitant because they had family members lost," Miller said. "It was very difficult for the evacuees to make that decision. It took a leap of faith."

Jean Apelacion, who lived in St. Bernard Parish, said her family jumped at the chance to come to San Diego. She worked at a flea market and knew her home, a van and a pickup she used for work were destroyed.

"We lost everything," she said.

Apelacion and her family were getting ready for church at a shelter in Baton Rouge when a man asked if they wanted to go to San Diego.

"He said this place is very safe, and the people are nice and they are going to take care of us," said Apelacion's sister, Analiza Galino.

After eating lunch yesterday, many of the evacuees went to Wal- Mart on Aero Drive to buy clothes, shoes, prepaid cellular phones and other provisions to begin their life here.

Katie Johnson said she wants to stay in San Diego and eventually bring her mother, who remained in Baton Rouge. She figures her family's fourth-floor apartment and the rest of her Algiers neighborhood in New Orleans were lost.

"New Orleans is doomed," she said. "It'll never get right."