A group of good Samaritans with small watercraft are heading to Houston to help with the unprecedented flooding and other lasting effects of Harvey.
The group, which is known as ‘Cajun Navy’ according to USA Today, was formed 12 years ago after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. They have saved thousands of stranded people, by some estimates, according to USA Today, who writes that the group is already starting to help rescue stranded people in Texas.
The Cajun Navy is a group of people with different watercrafts: hunting boats, draft duck hunting boats with mud motors, airboats, kayaks, and more. There has never been an actual census of the group, mainly because state lawmakers made and effort last year to require training and permit fees, writes USA Today. But it is estimated there are hundreds of members, mainly from southern Louisiana.
“The reality of the Cajun Navy is everybody out here with a boat that isn’t devastated gets out and helps others,” said Clyde Cain to USA Today last August. He runs the Facebook page Louisiana Cajun Navy.
The group communicates via a smartphone app called Zello, which is almost like a digital citizens’ band (CB) radio.
Joey Hains, 39, said that most members have jobs and they’re just going to help. They remember the kindness Houstonians showed to Louisianans fleeing Katrina. They want to repay the favor.
“We’re just more than willing to go and help wherever we can,” Hains said, according to USA Today.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards sent a search-and-rescue team with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to Houston in response to the flooding, according to USA Today.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning on Sunday through Wednesday for a large portion of southwest Louisiana.
Just heard from #CajunNavy member, who’s been in w Texas since 2 pm, pulling people from flooded neighborhoods. WOWhttps://t.co/1SFmhyccsZ
— Grace Toohey (@grace_2e) August 28, 2017
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