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Jamerica Willis says she was quietly sitting with her two young children Wednesday night when she heard a commotion near by. And argument was escalating and Willis knew what was about to go down. "It's just a mess, we want to go home and if we don't go home soon, something bad going to happen."
Frustrations have been building at each of the hurricane relief shelters around Birmingham. Many of those taking shelter in advance of Hurricane Gustav's arrival have grown tired of sleeping on cots, and eating similar meals every day. All the while watching as the storm bore down on their homes, but turning away just hours before impact and saving New Orleans from a disaster similar to Hurricane Katrina.
Because the storm did so little damage comparatively, many have wondered in the days since why it has taken so long for the Louisiana Government to come and bring them home. Their many questions have been met with delays, or no answer at all.
So the evacuees sit and wait, and then wait some more. Willis says she knew something was going to give soon... but she didn't expect it to happen right in front of her children. "Last night they had a fight with some girls. One of the girls got tasered. She had to be like 15 or 16 and it's going to keep escalating. Every night it's going to be something, it's going to be something because people are getting tired and they don't know what else to do."
A Birmingham Police Officer on the scene says five people were taken into police custody. But it's not clear if any charges will be filed.
Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper said Tuesday that arrests would be a last resort and that his officers were instructed to simply keep the peace. But as frustrations continue to boil, more arrests could follow.
Donell Bennett says rumblings around his cot have him convinced that if answers to the evacuees prayers do not come soon, then Birmingham Police Officers could find their hands full. "They going to know something in a couple more days. If they don't bring us home, we going to go crazy on them around here."
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