The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 110, No. 39, Ed. 1 Friday, September 30, 2005 Page: 2 of 22
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2-A
The Clifton Record
Friday, Sept. 30, 2005
• EVACUEES
Continued From Page One
worst part. No air-condition-
ing, the drivers, and no bath-
rooms.”
Evacuees had to maneuver
through congested driving
situations.
“People would just push you
out of the way,” said Cuevas.
“It was awful. Whether you
moved or not, they were com-
ing.”
Cuevas traveled with her
four children and her sister,
Virna Jimenez, and two chil-
dren. Knowing that they would
be evacuating, they tried to
stock up on water and neces-
sary items before leaving.
“A case of water was $24, if
you could even find any,” said
Cuevas.
“Canned food that was usu-
ally 33-cents, we had to pay $3
for,” said Jimenez.
Filling the floor of the car
with water, fruit, peanut butter,
and the very basics, the two
women headed north.
Both said that they packed
only enough clothing for about
three days.
“Whatever would fit in a
backpack,” said the women.
“We didn’t know where we
would go, but the hand of God
was always with us.”
After being in the car for
more than 24 hours, the two
women and their families ar-
rived in Waco where they were
greeted with “No more room.”
A hotel attendant provided
them with a phone number of
a shelter. They contacted the
shelter and were directed to
Clifton.
“Who’se ever heard of Clif-
ton?” said Rev. A.L. Jones of
Beaumont.
“We hadn’t. Now, we feel so
welcome and so very grateful.”
Jones and his family left
Beaumont Thursday, but be-
cause of impossible traffic, re-
turned home and left again on
Friday.
“It wasn’t that long ago that
we opened our own churches
and homes to evacuees from
Hurricane Katrina, and now
we’re the ones in need,” said
Jones.
Both of the families agreed
that although the hurricane is
something horrific, it is a
blessing in disguise.
Cuevas said, “This has re-
minded people of what is truly
important, each other. We all
have to look at this as a sort of
lesson. Everyone has opened
us to communicate with one
another and be more helpful to
each other. We were losing our
sense of what is important.
This has diverted attention to
what matters.”
Jones said, “Tell everyone
how truly grateful we are. I
know where Clifton, Texas is
now and you can bet I won’t
forget it. We are so grateful.”
REV. A.L. JONES AND HIS FAMILY, all of Beaumont, share a room at the First Baptist Church of Clifton. “It
wasn’t that long ago that we opened our own churches and homes to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina, and
now we’re the ones in need," said Jones. — staff Photo By Deborah Mathews
‘To The People Of Clifton’
Evacuees Return Home
By Deborah Mathews
STAFF WRITER
CLIFTON — Most of the Hurricane Rita evacu-
ees from South Texas are returning home to “see
what’s left.” Adults helped their children prepare
notes to present volunteers, thanking them for all
that had been done.
“To the people of Clifton: You will be in our hearts
and prayers. Thank you for your generosity and love.
We have been forever moved by each of you.” The
note was signed by the children.
The Rev. Jerry Smith said, “All of our guests have
been so very gracious and kind. We even got some
cooking lessons.”
Houston evacuee Christian Cuevos, originally of
Ecuador, shared some of her cooking secrets with
willing volunteers.
People donated food, money, time, and even horse
rides to Rita’s victims. Volunteers took children to
the Clifton Fairground arena to offer rides on their
horses. Some people who were not part of the par-
ticipating churches stopped in to offer their services
in whatever capacity that might be needed.
Many evacuees pointed out that the information
packets that had been provided to them by the Clif-
ton Chamber of Commerce were invaluable. In-
cluded were maps, phone numbers, businesses, and
activities and evacuees said that it was all used. “We
wouldn’t have known where the grocery store or the
library or the parks or anything was without it.”
Smith said, “To all those who helped, thank you.
Your help with those displaced by Hurricane Rita was
greatfy appreciated. It is always good to see coop-
eration efforts of our own community.” Smith named
some of the volunteers, but said there is no way to
properly thank everyone.
Among those he named were David’s Supermar-
ket; Two Amigos Restaurant; State Trooper Steve
Adcock; Clifton Police Department; Church Volun-
teers; citizen volunteers; David Corpier, CC etc.;
Double B Foods; Bunkhouse BBQ; Complete Dental
Care; Pre Mary Iglesia Emanuel; Ken and Pam
Slagel; Helen Hubler; Michael and Melanie Harvey;
Chamber of Commerce; Sunset Home; and everyone
who helped.
Evacuees that stayed at the Methodist Church re-
turned to their homes also. Rev. Tom Beaty had asked
them to call whenever possible to let everyone here
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“THANK YOU ALL, FROM ALL, From Houstonians
with love in Christ,” read the glitter and glue thank
you note that children evacuees had prepared for the
volunteers who helped during their stay in Clifton. The
back of the note said,“To the people of Clifton: You
will be in our hearts and prayers. Thank you for your
generosity and love. We have been forever moved by
each Of you.” — Staff Photo By Deborah Mathews
know that they had arrived safely. “You form a bond,”
said Beaty. “When they left after just three days, it’s
like having family leaving.”
The evacuees did call Rev. Beaty to tell him that
they were safe and to thank volunteers once again
for the work they had done. They extended an offer
to come to Houston anytime and repeatedly said,
“Thank you to Clifton.”
THE HARRISON AND CONNER families of Beaumont, Port Arthur,
and Houston await news from home while they eat and fill out forms
for submission to FEMA. Their home county of Jefferson has been
declared a disaster area. — s,att pho,° bt Deborah Mathews
‘Anything Else
Can Be Replaced’
Evacuees Await Word Of Damage
By Deborah Mathews
STAFF WRITER
CLIFTON — A family of 16,
most of the Beaumont and Port
Arthur area, are waiting to find
out if their homes still exist.
Jefferson County has been de-
clared a disaster area and most
of their homes are there.
Currently staying in Laguna
Park and coming to Clifton for
meals and essentials, the family
is eager for any word and hope
to try to return home with the
majority of the family on Tuesday.
The Harrison and Conner
families came to the area after
finding room at the King’s Creek
Lodge on Lake Whitney. Troy
Harrison contacted the lodge and
reserved rooms. He said that a
friend asked him to obtain rooms
for them as well and only five
minutes after his phone call for
his own rooms, the lodge was full.
“We were grateful to be able to
find anything,” said Harrison.
Like many of the other South
Texas evacuees, the Harrison
and Conner families just recently
assisted with Hurricane Katrina
victims. Now they find them-
selves in the same circumstance
of seeking shelter.
“We’ve never had to stay in a
sheltef before,” said a family
member. “And we’ve been
through hurricanes before. It’s
just a way of life.”
Washington Harrison, 101
years old, recalled a time in 1926
when a hurricane coming up the
coast took many lives. “Many
people drowned. They just didn’t
know it was coming.” He ex-
plained how drowned bodies
were washing up.
Though society is now better
equipped to disseminate infor-
mation, “They still don’t really
know that much,” said Washing-
ton Harrison.
Some of the younger members
of the family recalled a storm of
1983-1984 when an alligator was
washed into their neighborhood.
“One of the neighbors heard a
knocking on her door and when
she opened it, she shut it pretty
fast.”
“We felt like our lives were too
valuable to try to wait it out,” said
Troy Harrison. “The way I see it,
anything else can be replaced.”
Like other victims of Hurricane
Rita^ the Harrison and Conner
families suffered with the heat
and irritable evacuees. “Every-
one was in survival mode,” said
Troy Harrison. They witnessed
fights and disagreements on the
roads and at the fuel pumps.
Some vendors would only accept
credit card purchases and as a
result, evacuees were paying
cash to those with credit cards
just to purchase fuel.
Family members from the
Houston area plan to try to return
home sooner than the rest as that
area was not as devastated by the
storm. While en route, they will
stop at the shelter in Waco that is
housing some evacuees from
their area to “See if there is any-
thing that we can do for them.”
The family agreed that there
could have been better plan-
ning for the huge evacuation,
stating that the staggering
didn’t work and that south-
bound roads were opened to
north traffic too late.
“There must be some better
ways to handle an evacuation of
this size,” said TVoy Harrison. “I
think that there are several
things that can be done to ensure
that things can go smoother when
this happens again.” He men-
tioned trying to become involved
with efforts to that affect.
All of the family declared that,
“We’re being spoiled here. The
overwhelming outpouring of
compassion is something we’re
so very grateful for.”
One family member said, “This
is an experience that will stay
with me my whole life.”
‘A Lot Of Us Would Have Hung Out, Except For The Animals’
Clifton Fairgrounds Opened To Evacuees and Their Animals
By Deborah Mathews
STAFF WRITER
CLIFTON — Fair board mem-
bers opened the Clifton Fair-
grounds and all its facilities to
Hurricane Rita evacuees and their
animals this past Friday. People in
the path of the storm had nowhere
to go with their show animals and
following an exhaustive search,
were informed that accommoda-
tions were available in Clifton.
Working in conjunction with the
Bosque County Extension office,
Brad Cox of Valley Mills, and Jay
McCormick of Bar None to coor-
dinate arrivals and space, volun-
teers made themselves and the
facilities available.
Three families arrived from ar-
eas just outside of Houston, Pasa-
dena and Deer Park on Friday
afternoon with pigs, goats, and
lambs numbering 20 in tow, hav-
ing left their homes on Wednesday
evening. In transit, one pig died as
a result of the stress and heat.
“With traffic at a standstill, there
is no way for them to get any air,”
said evacuee Doug Watson.
“There was just nothing to do for
it.”
Each of the three families
spoke of the huge number of
dead animals littering the roads
between Houston and Clifton.
“There was a dead horse in a
grocery store parking lot,” said
Watson. Dogs, rabbits, and
horses were just some of the ani-
mals that perished during the
evacuation of South Texas.
Dealing with difficult travel con-
ditions, the families said that once
other drivers understood that they
were carrying animals, they were
more considerate. “Some people
even gave us water.”
“You could get out of the pickup
and just walk over to the other
cars and let them know,” said
Penny Pilkington. “One man even
unloaded his horse and walked
him. That’s how slow traffic was.”
For a drive that generally takes
four hours, the families traveled
for more than 41 hours before ar-
riving in Clifton. In one area, the
group went 42 miles in 16 hours.
“We just feel fortunate, that we
only lost one,” said the families.
“A lot of us would have hung out
if it had not been for the animals,”
said Watson.
The evacuees expressed heart-
felt gratitude for those who have
offered so much. “The people here
are just incredible. They would
come to offer hay and other things
and just to find out if we needed
anything at all. We are so very
grateful. We don’t know where we
would have gone.”
Family members thanked the
people who helped, knowing most
by only their first names. “There
was one man, David was his name,
I think. He was so wonderful,” said
Pilkington, referring to David Bev-
els of the Fair Board. “The exten-
sion agent, too, he was here to
meet us when we arrived. Just ev-
eryone. People have been so kind
to us.”
“They even gave us use of the
scales,” said Watson. “The live-
stock show at the State Fair is
coming next week and it’s crucial
that we watch the weight of the
animals.”
“The lumber yard over there
(pointing to Clifton Moulding)
brought us some shavings for the
animals.
“I am really dreading the drive
home,” said Pilkington. “But, we
have to go. They’re going to begin
school again on either Wednesday
or Thursday, and we have to get
back to work, too.”
Still exhausted from the long
drive to Clifton, the families are
preparing to return to their homes
on Monday evening, waiting for
the cooler temperatures of the
night.
THE CLIFTON FAIRGROUNDS has been opened to hurricane evacu-
ees and their animals. Most arrived on Friday afternoon and hope to
return home on Monday evening. _ staff Photo bv Deborah Mathews
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Smith, W. Leon. The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 110, No. 39, Ed. 1 Friday, September 30, 2005, newspaper, September 30, 2005; Clifton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth790224/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nellie Pederson Civic Library.