Jacob Combs said that the trip turned sour early Sunday morning when the fire alarm sounded.
"The first thing we hear is, ‘alpha team, alpha team -- report to the engine room.' It's an intercom system that goes throughout the whole boat and it's the loudest think you've ever heard," said Combs.
Shortly after, Jacob says the fire doors of the Carnival Triumph shut and smoke poured into his part of the ship, where makeshift evacuation centers had been set up.
"It was a pretty neat situation, actually, when we left. A lot of people were helping the elderly. My brother and I and one of my best friends carried a lady named Marita, who has cancer and can't walk very well, we carried her out on the stairs," Combs said.
Jacob said the toilet situation is as bad as previous reports had suggested.
"People are going in the sink, going in trash cans, going anywhere they could. They started distributing red bags that had biohazard symbols on them," Combs said.
Passengers used some ingenuity, cannibalizing an ATM for power to charge their devices and Coast Guard helicopters dropped supplies once they got within 180 miles of shore.
"They dropped generators; they dropped all kinds of things to try to give us enough power. Just, I think, so that our captain can talk with the station in Miami," Combs said.
Despite all the travails the passengers have been through, Jacob hesitated to complain.
"They're doing the best they can. I don't want to talk bad about the crew. They're really working hard, but it's just -- it's crazy and people are frustrated and just want off, you know," Combs said.
Jacob says because of there's only one elevator and other factors, he doesn't expect to get off the ship until 4 or 5 in the morning.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:14 AM EDT2013-05-24 14:14:44 GMT
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times in 2012.
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times outside their Sandy Springs apartment in 2011.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:52:10 GMT
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
The jury has found Michael Parson guilty on all eight counts in the shooting of his wife outside their Sandy Springs apartment.The woman, Adina Parson, survived after being shot eight times.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:40 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:40:32 GMT
Families of city workers are back at Atlanta City Hall this morning for a second day of protests. They're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Families of city workers are back at Atlanta City Hall this morning for a second day of protests. They're demanding bigger pay raises for police, firefighters and other first responders.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:38 GMT
A Newton County teenager and his mom received the gift of mobility on Thursday, thanks to some Good Samaritans.
A Newton County teenager and his mom received the gift of mobility on Thursday, thanks to some Good Samaritans. Tyler Head was injured in a high school wrestling tournament in December, and getting back and forth to therapy is a vital to his recovery.
Passengers dismantled an ATM for power to charge their devices (Photo by Jacob Combs)
Jacob Combs was a passenger on the trouble cruise ship (Photo provided by Jacob Combs)
Passenger sleep on the troubled cruise ship (Photo by Jacob Combs)
