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Tuesday, 02 September 2008 17:00 |
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When Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and his band of deputies went to New Orleans in 2005 to help rescue Hurricane Katrina victims, they made a lifelong friendship with Darel Bryan. Bryan (pictured in blue with his brother) was with the deputies nearly every day during their mission. He and his brother owned and operated one of the airboats the deputies used to rescue people. Their boats helped the deputies save more than 100 lives. The two brothers run a charter boat business in Golden Meadow, La., a town just a few miles from where Hurricane Gustav went to shore on Monday. According to national news reports, some of the worst flooding from Gustav occurred in Golden Meadow. White has been trying to call Bryan ever since the hurricane hit, but has had no luck. The sheriff has called 10 times looking for Bryan. "I am really worried about him," White said. "I hope he is OK." In 2006, White went to Golden Meadow while touring the Gulf Coast for Katrina's one-year anniversary. While there, Bryan and White went fishing, sharing a pot of gumbo and stories about their rescues. Bryan and his brother never got paid for the work they did during Katrina. They were supposed to get about $25,000 from a FEMA contractor for their work. White has been in contact with FEMA trying to secure money for the brothers. When interviewed by the Journal a year after Katrina, Bryan said there will always be a free boat ride and a bowl of gumbo waiting for the deputies from the desert at his hometown in Golden Meadow. White said he hopes he can share another bowl with Bryan. "He is so damn proud," White said. "I am just worried he didn't get out."
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 September 2008 09:33 )
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