On Wednesday, August 31, my friend Jeff Rau and I wove a motorboat
through New Orleans, pulling people out of the water. We ferried people
all day between Carrolton Avenue and the Causeway overpass, about a mile
and a half each way.
Early on, we saw a black man in a boat with no motor. He rescued people
and paddled them a mile and a half to safety -- with nothing but a piece
of two by four lumber for a paddle. He then turned around and went back
for more people. He refused our help, saying he didn't want to slow us
down. At 5 p.m. he headed on another trip, knowing he would finish after
dark.
One group of 50 people we rescued that Wednesday afternoon was on the
bridge that crosses over Airline Highway near Carrolton Avenue. Most had
been there with no food, water, or anywhere to go since Monday morning,
with 10 feet of water all around them.
more....
http://www.heroicstories.com/backissue1.htmlit's good, esp. the end -- worth a read.