Hurricane evacuees find safety and comfort in new city
Sheeka Sanahori, HumankindPublished 8:25 a.m. ET Sept. 18, 2018 | Updated 8:28 a.m. ET Sept. 18, 2018
FAIRBURN, Ga -- Steve Samet wasn't sure where he'd end up when he boarded one of three large buses in his neighborhood sent to evacuate the South Carolina coast. All he knew was he needed to get out of the path of Hurricane Florence.
"They came, and they got us about six in the morning and put us on a big bus," Samet said.
He and more than 70 of his neighbors gathered a few belongings and left their homes behind. They're all members of a senior housing community in Mount Pleasant, SC.
"And everybody knew most of the motels were taken up in this area, so we had to drive on, and we spent a lot of time on the bus," he said.
The bus finally stopped at a hotel in Fairburn, GA. The welcome they got was astonishing.
Several restaurants donated warm meals for the senior citizens. Fairburn police officers offered free rides to the evacuees for as long as they remain in town. Fairburn residents dropped off board games to give the senior citizens a fun way to pass the time.
Deputy Chief Anthony Bazydlo says the city of Fairburn has made it a habit to help out hurricane evacuees.
"We did this during Hurricane Irma. We go to each of the Fairburn hotels. Any evacuees are welcome to any kind of shuttle service, just so we can help make their day a little bit easier," he said.
It made for a warm welcome during uncertain times.
USA TODAY