Louisiana couple escaping from Katrina, finds friends and a home in Muskogee

Some lifelong Louisianans who lost everything they owned have found something here in eastern Oklahoma. What they found is much more valuable than what money can buy. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor Tami

Tuesday, September 13th 2005, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

Some lifelong Louisianans who lost everything they owned have found something here in eastern Oklahoma. What they found is much more valuable than what money can buy.

News on 6 anchor Tami Marler went to Camp Gruber to learn more about Bill and Barbara Taylor's precious gift.

"I didn't think we were going to make it out alive and if it weren't for a perfect stranger with a boat, all I can say is thank God for him." It wouldn't be the last time Barbara Taylor would be thanking God for the kindness of a stranger. When the New Orleans levies broke and her home was destroyed.

Taylor and her husband were shuttled from shelter to shelter. "Was actually horrible because they had dead bodies and everything else in walkways and stuff. They put us in a dormitory cell. We couldn't leave there. Half the time we didn't have no water. For two days we had one bottle of water between both of us."

They finally pulled into Camp Gruber, where they were greeted by still more generous strangers. "Thank God to the good governor of Oklahoma for letting us come in here in this state. If it weren't for him, I don't know where we'd be right now." And there are still more thanks to go around. "Well Karen and Debbie, I think God sent them to us. Because really and truly, if they wouldn't have come to us, I was ready to let go. Sometime I still have the days where I just say the heck with it, I just want to let go. But there's still some fight left in me."

After a week of volunteering at Camp Gruber, Karen Ritchey and Debbie Hamilton found the Taylors a temporary home. A Muskogee couple donated an apartment behind their house. Debbie Hamilton: "When she saw the plants out here she was speechless. It just energizes Karen and I because the things we did were so commonplace. Through the whole thing I just thought, I hope someone would do this for my mom and dad."

The Taylors have found a family and a home in Oklahoma. Barbara Taylor: "Like the song Merle Haggard made years ago, Okie from Muskogee, they can call me that anytime they want. And I think I'll, well I know I'll be proud to be one."

The Taylors also lost everything in hurricane Betsy forty years ago. Barbara Taylor says Betsy was a baby compared to Katrina. They say two devastating hurricanes in one lifetime are enough. Theyâ€™ve decided they're never going back to New Orleans.