RELATIVES PULL TOGETHER AFTER STORM DISASTER FAMILY MEMBERS REUNITED IN VALLEY IN WAKE OF KATRINA.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer PALMDALE - In the chaotic and treacherous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. , Emeal Age headed to New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded to rescue his mother and other
family members.
Age, a Palmdale tile setter, his brother Cedric, who owns a Palmdale real estate company, and their sister from Moreno Valley Moreno Valley (mərē`nō), city (1990 pop. 118,779), Riverside co., S Calif., inc. 1984. In 1990, Moreno Valley was California's fastest-growing city, with a population increase of more than 300% between 1980 and 1990, but major reductions flew Sept. 1 to Houston, rented two vans and drove to a shelter in San Antonio, Texas “San Antonio” redirects here. For other uses, see San Antonio (disambiguation). San Antonio is the second most populous city in Texas, the third most populous metropolitan area in Texas, and is the seventh most populous city in the United States. As of the 2006 U.S. , where their mother and 20 other relatives were staying, having been evacuated from New Orleans' convention center. After a joyous reunion, three generations of the Age family, ranging in age from 2 months to 66, packed into the vans on Sunday and made the 1,500-mile trip back to Palmdale. They arrived late Monday, a week after Katrina devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. their home. ``I'm still high. It's overwhelming joy that words can't even explain. It's thousands of people dead that could've easily been my family. We didn't even lose one,'' said Age, 44. ``All the glory belongs to God. His grace was over my whole family.'' After their arrival, Age's 21 relatives, representing six families, stayed at the Marriott Courtyard hotel in Palmdale, thanks to the generosity of a local church, Love and Grace Christian Fellowship. On Thursday, the group left the hotel to stay in relatives' homes and a Lancaster house Lancaster House is a mansion in the St. James's district in the West End of London. It is close to St. James's Palace and much of the site was once part of the palace complex. It is a Grade I listed building. that one of Cedric Age's clients took off the market and made available for the family. The family also has received donations of food and clothing from residents and businesses. ``Everybody is so nice and kind to us since we've been here,'' said matriarch Elizabeth Age, 66, who took just her handbag when she left her home. ``It feels good to be eating a hot meal and to have a soft bed to lie on. I haven't rested enough yet.'' When Katrina hit, the family had gathered at the home of one of Elizabeth Age's daughters, Eileen. Eileen kept in contact with her Palmdale brothers by cell phone, though service was sporadic. When the floodwaters began rising, the family decided to leave the house. Some went to the Superdome and others went to the convention center, said Angela Age, Emeal's sister. Angela, 36, said she walked the several miles to the indoor football
``I saw two to three dead bodies. I went through water that had trash, chemicals and food,'' Angela Age said. The family eventually reunited "Reunited" was a #1 hit in the United States in 1979 by the Washington, D.C.-based group Peaches & Herb. Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer at the convention center, where they stayed for about five days, the first two to three days without food or water. Conditions there were horrible, Angela said. They slept on the ground. ``We lay on concrete like this,'' she said, stamping her foot down on the hotel driveway. ``I can't explain it. It was real bad, terrible. There was really a bad odor coming out of the building. There was no food, no water, nothing.'' The family foraged for food in the center's kitchen and found frozen chicken and steak and cooked it on a barbecue grill that someone had brought. They were evacuated Saturday by helicopter to the New Orleans airport and then traveled by airplane to San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. . Family members still are being rounded up. Cedric Age went to Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX Thursday to pick up a 7-year-old nephew who was separated from the family back in New Orleans. Angela Age said the hotel was a nice refuge. ``It felt great. It was relief - clean water, a bed to lie in, a bath, towels, soap.'' Elizabeth Age said they had not evacuated because they wanted to stay together and thought they would be safe. Emeal Age said the family had ridden out other hurricanes before, and they were limited by their circumstances. ``Everybody doesn't have the means to evacuate, financial or transportation means or where to go. Leave to go where?'' Emeal Age said. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Storm refugee Kenneth Age, 11, front, stands with, from left, grandma Elizabeth Age, grandpa Travis Carter Travis Carter is a former car owner and crew chief in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He served as crew chief for two decades, winning championships with Benny Parsons and Cale Yarborough in 1973 and 1978, respectively. He owned Travis Carter Motorsports from 1970 to 2003. , sister Meagan Age, cousin Jacoby Age, and mom Darlene Age. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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