NATCHITOCHES – Residential Life staff from Northwestern State University traveled to the University of New Orleans this week to assist with the evacuation of on-campus students.
“We left Natchitoches at 4 a.m. with 50 gallons of gasoline, three ice chests of cold drinks, food and other supplies and headed south,” said Hunter Horton, director of Leasing. “The gas was for the generators which were powering small AC units and cooling stations at the clubhouse area for students and staff.”
Most of UNO’s residential students had already evacuated or boarded buses bound for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. A few remained waiting to be picked up or trying to determine their next steps, Horton said.
“We spent the day supporting the staff of Privateer Place and cleaned out refrigerators, as the power is not expected to be restored for up to 22 days. We assisted with property clean up and just were an extra set of hands for an already worn-out staff,” Horton said. “All of us were shocked at the complete devastation of the area. Our hearts were especially burdened, as we had just experienced a hurricane a year ago. We were keen on helping in ways that we were helped last year.”
Pictured from left are Daeshawn Lyles, NSU assistant director of Residence Life; Denise Taylor, UNO Privateer Place General Manager; Dr. Jackie Hughes, Campus Living Villages senior assistant Vice President; Ashley Fortenberry, NSU assistant director of Residence Life, and Hunter Horton, NSU Director of Leasing.
