A bed-ridden man from a Texas nursing home, pups trapped between floods and dozens of families have been among some of the dramatic Texas rescues made by Floridians this week.
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From government officers with Florida’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to airboat operators from Orlando who felt compelled to help, Texas needed help and Florida answered the call.
At the Emergency Operations Center in Orange County, Texas, rescue efforts are coordinated for some of the most flooded areas in southeast Texas.
Daily briefings are held and teams from the Army, National Guard, FWC and all other rescuers, including those from Florida, get their assignments on where people are still stranded.
The flooding was so bad in Beaumont and Port Arthur the last few days that reporter Katie LaGrone and her crew couldn’t make it to witness rescues by the team with Wild Florida, an Orlando group that gives eco-swamp airboat tours.
“The best part about it was how gracious people were,” said owner Sam Haught. His four-member crew hauled two six-passenger airboats 900 miles from home to help Texans.
The team started conducting rescues on Wednesday. By Thursday night, they transported approximately 50 people out of harm’s way on airboats.
“The experience is overwhelming,” said rescuer P.J. Brown. “This lady I carried, she gave me a kiss and she said, 'Tell your mom she raised a good boy.' The thanks will tear you up."
