Route 91 changed the way we lived here in our little oasis. “Nothing ever bad happens here,” is a common phrase of shock that I heard at the blood donation lines the next day. But how we came together as a city was truly something of heroism like I’d never known it before. What it meant to be Vegas Strong had never had until then. Let me paint the scene for you one year ago today on October 1, 2017.
I was packing for a press trip in the midwest last year when I was urged to turn on the news. I stayed, but there it was. Our little big city like I had never seen it before. Featured across every major news outlet announcing the cowardly attack by the spineless evil made of human flesh who will forever be referred to by a pronoun.
“What is my role right now? How do I contribute effectively? Do I go and report live from the scene or do I search through hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to tweet people to safety and help police officials with online leads? Who do I know that attended?” This was all I could think of. After ensuring everyone I knew was safe, I resumed to look for leads and assist our LVMPD via Twitter while writing articles.
I saw it all through their eyes. The content that I found on Instagram and Twitter were some of the most horrendous and chilling I had ever seen, knowing that it was all being recorded LIVE and only a few minutes away.
The city came together instantly. There was no time to breathe or think; only to act. A friend of a friend drove to the scene to give people rides away from Route 91 only to return and do the same all night. More locals did the same. I even heard of people being messaged directly via Instagram and being offered free rides to safety. People were also being located by the Route 91 “check-in location” Instagram feature and hashtags.
Immediately our first-responders took in as many as they could to our local hospitals and those hospitals assisted as many people as fast as they could. The Sunrise Hospitals’ Las Vegas High School interns also jumped in to help. I know because my cousin was one of them.
Las Vegans were also driving out with their trucks to help paramedics carry out bodies and rushing them to the hospitals. Our police and our morticians also, unfortunately, worked around the clock. Reporters risked their lives as well covering the scene.
Steve Sisolak quickly created the GoFundMe page to aid survivors of the Route 91 massacre, which we all tirelessly began sharing and donating every single time we could. And let’s not forget the other Route 91 heroes that found themselves helping the wounded and, for some, jumping in front of others to shield them from the endless rounds of bullets.
The next day our community gathered and dropped off endless amounts of food, water, blankets, phone chargers, even support dogs came out to comfort, to the Thomas & Mack Center. Others donated their time, their homes, South Point and Siegel Suites gave away free rooms, and others donated their blood and returned the next day. The blood banks saw an outpour of support that at one point donations were halted during noon.
The days after October 1, 2017, felt heavy and dark. Our little quiet and peaceful oasis intenselt felt the loss of those 58 lives and the pain of those 851 survivors. Going out felt guilty. Laughing did, too. Las Vegas felt disoriented. We were in shock and it almost felt like we would be stuck in this new mirage forever, but we’re Vegas Strong after all.
Vegas Strong means resilient bravery. It’s the ultimate example of courage, community, and sacrifice. It’s wrapped with determination, action, initiative, and leadership. Vegas Strong is to be selfless. It’s the Las Vegan that takes the risk to conquer the obstacles of her and his environment against all odds. It’s that one thing everyone is born with, but most people won’t ever exercise. Vegas Strong is defying fear to attain the will of putting others first even if at the expense of our own peril.
That is who we are. Vegas Strong.
