Emergency workers receive much-needed free vacations in Vegas

J. Craig Anderson

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005 | 11:13 a.m.

New Orleans paramedic Keeley Williams stood on the bone-dry asphalt of a McCarran International Airport loading dock Tuesday, but all she could think about was the ever-present, unrelenting water that had suffocated and starved her neighbors as it thwarted her efforts to save them.

Keeley was one of eight emergency workers who had become trapped last week inside a makeshift fire station -- a BellSouth telephone company building in New Orleans East -- surrounded by 20-foot-high water as they waited in fear and frustration for a chance to get back to work.

"We were stranded ourselves," Williams said.

Finally, a helicopter arrived Aug. 31 to transport the team of firefighters and paramedics, not to safety but into the heart of a massive evacuation effort taking place throughout the flooded city.

"It's been a rough nine days," Williams said. "It wasn't what anyone expected."

Williams was one of 43 people -- including an estimated 25 rescue workers and their families -- flown to Las Vegas Tuesday to begin what city officials say will be an ongoing series of free vacations for firefighters, police and paramedics involved in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

"If there's anything we can do to make them feel better for just a few days," Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Chief David Washington said, "we're pleased to be a part of it."

Washington said the emotional strain of watching the catastrophe unfold on television has been enough to make some viewers turn away, but the effect it must be having on those directly involved is unfathomable.

"I can't even imagine what they're going through," he said. "These are our fellow human beings, our fellow Americans. We have to show them that we care."

Deputy Chief Greg McCurdy of Metro Police said his only wish is that the city could do more to help the emergency workers.

"We can't imagine what these public safety officers have gone through -- both fire and police," McCurdy said. "Hopefully they can go back recharged to handle this terrible disaster."

New Orleans Fire Department Capt. Phil Mason said he was grateful to both his mayor, Ray Nagin, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, for helping to organize the rest-and-relaxation trip.

"They asked us if we wanted a free trip to Vegas, and we would have been crazy to say no," Mason said during a press conference Tuesday evening.

Standing at a podium behind a row of massive cargo warehouses, Goodman dialed up a voice mail message on his cell phone from Nagin and played it into the microphone.

"Man, I'm calling you to thank you so, so, so much for taking care of my guys," Nagin said. "I owe you one, big time."

Goodman said numerous Las Vegas organizations and companies jumped at the chance to help with the R&R program, including Allegiant Airlines, which flew the rescuers and their loved ones, and Station Casinos Inc., which is putting them up in free rooms.

Even singer Barry Manilow stepped up to give the visitors free tickets to his show, Goodman said.

Everyone he asked offered "whatever it takes to get these people back into the frame of mind to return and to service the people of New Orleans," Goodman said.

The three- to five-day trips will continue as needed throughout the month, city officials said.

Williams said she badly needed the rest, but the rescue effort hasn't been without its uplifting moments. Helping with the Louisiana Superdome evacuation -- in which she said 20,000 people were extracted and relocated in about 12 hours -- gave her a strong sense of purpose.

"It made me think, 'This is why I stayed. This is why I do what I do,' " she said.

Mason spoke about his experience working on the post-Katrina rescue effort in a more matter-of-fact tone.

"It's a job that had to be done,' he said. "We were trained to do it. We just responded."