First Bus To Arrive At Astrodome Not From Superdome

HOUSTON -- A bus of refugees left homeless and helpless by Hurricane Katrina arrived at the Astrodome, but they were not the evacuees who originally took shelter at the Superdome, Local 2 reported Thursday.

State and county officials said the Astrodome would only accept refugees from the Louisiana Superdome, but the first bus that arrived at the Astrodome Thursday night was actually stolen.

---

Want To Help? Local Donation Information
Stranded Evacuee? Free, Reduced Admission To Houston Attractions
Slideshow: Images Of Katrina's Damage
Local 2 Coverage: Video, Article Archive

---

The driver of the school bus claimed to be from the Superdome, but after authorities questioned the 20-year-old driver, they learned the bus was actually stolen.

"The police told me I could have the bus. I told them I had a license," Jabar Gibson told Local 2.

Gibson said the Orleans Parish school bus was parked at the Superdome and that he picked up refugees stranded on the highway.

"We had walked on the interstate for two hours. (Officials) were passing us up. They weren't even worrying about us. They were just worrying about the people in the Superdome," evacuee Makivia Horton told Local 2.

Authorities let the refugees on the bus stay while other evacuees already in Houston have been turned away because they were not from the Superdome.

Local 2 reported that 20 of 475 buses scheduled to arrive at the Astrodome had arrived by 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

About 20,000 refugees from the Superdome are expected to arrive at Houston's Astrodome over the next couple of days.

An American Red Cross volunteer said they have ordered 45,000 cots and blankets to be delivered to the Astrodome.

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said the Astrodome could temporarily house the refugees but said the facility could not act as a permanent home. The arena's schedule has been cleared through December.