Thunder arrives in New Orleans to assist in relief effort
October 13, 2005 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Daytona Beach Thunder News Release
NEW ORLEANS - "Rolling Thunder," the Daytona Beach Thunder's state-of-the-art sleeper cruiser, pulled into the French Quarter Wednesday evening to distribute over 160 boxes of clothing to employees of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant.
Passing alongside boats marooned alongside a trash-ridden Interstate 10 - many miles inland -- roads with their 8-foot watermarks still showing from the flooding occurred during last month's catastrophic Hurricane Katrina, the bus carrying owners Zack and Kevin McDonald, the Thunder communications staff and Bubba Gump regional manager Jeff Ash arrived at the franchise's Decatur Street location and promptly unloaded their cargo, assisted by store general manager Billy Derenbecker and two restaurant employees.
"We feel it's an honor to assist our friends at Bubba Gump,'' Zack McDonald said. "If needed, we'll come back here and also go wherever we can to help our fellow Americans."
The twelve-hour drive from Daytona Beach gave the traveling party some insight of how the Gulf Coast is still reeling from the August 29 storm. Roadside signs were still out, tarps still on houses. Driving through Mobile, Ala., the retired battleship USS Alabama, now a museum, could be seen listing to the port side.
New Orleans itself shows signs of life, though most of the downtown area population is recovery related, indicated by the various polo shirts of government and law enforcement agencies.
Surprisingly, the famed Bourbon Street has a pulse, with vibrant live music eminating from numerous clubs. However, approximately every other establishment has yet to reopen. A midnight curfew is keeping those restaurants still open - and offering limited menus at that -- from serving late into the night.
"It's very surreal seeing New Orleans like this,'' Zack McDonald said. "This is one of my all-time favorite cities."
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. itself is closed, and more than likely will stay that way until the New Year. The relocation of the Sugar Bowl and another post-season college game scheduled for the now-shattered Superdome, will deny the city a much-needed tourist trade. Even if those games were played, the restaurant would be hard-pressed to find staffing - many of the pre-Katrina employees have relocated throughout the country and those who stayed behind will have a hard time finding housing.
"It's almost like opening a new location," Ash said. "We have a higher volume of customers than many of the other restaurants here in the Quarter, so we need more staffing.
"We thank the Thunder and its staff for their hard work and effort in assisting our New Orleans staff," Ash added. "We're looking forward to a long and prosperous partnership with this class act organization."
Showcasing its new paint scheme with the team logo as well as numerous hours of modifications, Rolling Thunder passed its maiden voyage with flying colors.
"There are still some tweaks we need to make before I'm putting my football team in this bad baby,'' Zack McDonald said. "But I'm sure the players are going to be thrilled with the mode of transportation we've provided for them."
The Thunder, an expansion team in the second-year American Indoor Football League, begins play February 2006 in the Ocean Center.
Locally owned and operated the Thunder is committed to providing first-class, family-oriented sports entertainment while serving its community in a professional manner. For more information, contact (386) 423-0560 or visit www.daytonabeachthunder.com.
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American Indoor Football Association Stories from October 13, 2005
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- Thunder arrives in New Orleans to assist in relief effort - Daytona Beach Thunder
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