Days After Hurricane Katrina Jabbar Gibson Stole a School Bus To Transport 70 People To Houston: A True Hero

When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005, thousands of residents were stranded without food, water, or transportation. Amid the chaos, a young man named Jabbar Gibson made a bold decision that would etch his name into history as an unlikely hero.

Three days after the storm, with government aid moving slowly and thousands still trapped in deteriorating conditions, the then–20-year-old Gibson took matters into his own hands. Spotting an idle Orleans Parish School bus, No. 0232, Gibson commandeered it and loaded it with as many people as he could—approximately 70 desperate evacuees.

With no official clearance, no plan other than survival, and no promise of safety, Gibson drove the bus more than 350 miles, spending over 12 hours on the road. His destination: the Houston Astrodome, which had just opened its doors as a mass shelter for evacuees.

Against all odds, Gibson’s bus was the very first to arrive at the Astrodome, hours before the government-organized convoys began transporting survivors. Those on board were finally able to receive food, water, medical attention, and a safe place to rest after days of misery in New Orleans.

Gibson’s courage and quick thinking not only saved dozens of lives but also became a symbol of community resilience and grassroots leadership during one of America’s worst natural disasters. While debates followed about the legality of his actions—since the bus had been taken without authorization—many hailed him as a hero who did what the government failed to do in time: put people first.

In the years since, Jabbar Gibson’s story has often been revisited as a reminder of how ordinary individuals can rise to extraordinary heights in moments of crisis. His decision to act, driven by necessity and compassion, captured the nation’s attention and remains one of the most powerful human stories to emerge from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.

Jabbar Gibson may not have worn a uniform, but to the dozens of evacuees on Bus No. 0232, he was the very definition of a hero.