Hurricane Refugees Spend Their First Day In Utah

John Hollenhorst reportingElisha Lefrance, New Orleans : "It just was horrible. It was like a bad dream that we wasn't going to wake up from. "

The bad dream is over for hundreds of evacuees from New Orleans. But now they must begin to rebuild their lives in an unfamiliar place: Utah.

Over the last 24 hours, several hundred people rescued from the hurricane disaster were flown to Utah. Some came on commercial airliners, and some arrived on military cargo planes.

Now they're settling in at Camp Williams with the necessities of life, but with vast uncertainty about their future.

It was a day of relief, joy, and worry, as people arrived at Camp Williams, and finally had a chance to begin recovering physically from their ordeal.

But for many, tremendous stress and sorrow will weigh heavily on them as they try to figure out where their lives go from here.

Most of them arrived with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. But as they settled into military barracks, they were given new clothes, and the first comfortable place to sleep in a week.

Diana Dindy, New Orleans Evacuee: "I’m breathing hard now because I’m excited because people care. I see people who really love us, and I appreciate that."

Mariann Geyer, American Red Cross: "It seems everybody would like a nice hot shower. And that's been very very popular. Next to that, getting a good night's sleep. "

For many, the memories of the last week, of nature's fury and man's inhumanity, will be hard to shake off.

Elisha LeFrance, New Orleans Evacuee: "It just was horrible. It was like a bad dream that we wasn't going to wake up from." (reporter question: "What about this place? How different is it?") “Oh, it's very beautiful out here and the people are friendly. And God, it was just a blessing from God."

Food, instead of being scarce, is plentiful. In this case, quarter-pounders with cheese.

Barbara Schmiett, McDonald's Spokesperson: "The McDonalds restaurants in Utah have all donated tonight's dinner"

An extraordinary outpouring of money and supplies has come from hundreds of companies, agencies and just plain folks. But to help evacuees adjust to what could be a long waiting game, some items are still lacking.

Janet Tennison, IHC: "Like boomboxes, music, CD’s."

Michelle Hanks, LDS Hospital: "Cell phone battery chargers. "

Janet Tennison, IHC: "Eyeglasses, reading glasses, any kind of glasses."

No one can say if the evacuees will be here for weeks, months or years.

Verdi White, Utah Commissioner of Public Safety: "Our objective immediately is to get them back with their families wherever they are, help them get where they want to go. And over the next several days we're going to put huge efforts into that."

Arvell Danpeer arrived in a wheelchair and then got back on his feet. He talks as if he's landed on a strange and wonderful planet where people are polite and generous.

Arvell Danpeer, New Orleans Evacuee: "First time I went somewhere, strange place, and it's 'Can I help you?' everywhere I look. 'Can I help you?' ' can I help you sir?' 'How you doing?' " (reporter question: "So you feel good about it?") "Oh yeah. I feel very pleased about it."

Many expressed a desire to return to New Orleans, if that ever becomes possible. But many we spoke with also said they'll consider making their new life right here in Utah.

After the victims of hurricane Katrina are settled, a number of people are ready to help them get back on their feet.

Utah Workforce Services will help people apply for food stamps, disaster unemployment insurance and other forms of assistance.

Several Utah companies are already offering jobs to those planning to stay for a while.

"We were already getting calls into our employment centers of businesses saying we can offer some temporary support -- temporary work for these people."

Workforces services will be evaluating skills before they begin finding positions for the evacuees.

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