I joined Cajun Navy and rescued a dog from Texas floods
CALLING themselves the Cajun Navy, a fleet of volunteers with boats have saved thousands of desperate Texan flood victims.
Descending on ravaged towns and rural villages, they outnumber government rescuers by the hundreds and are hailed as Hurricane Harvey’s real heroes.
As waters continue to rise in the east of the state, America’s new emergency service were rescuing a dog trapped by raging currents. With only a fence to cling to, the labrador cross was apparently abandoned as people fled when the storm took hold. Locals said she had been left for more than 24 hours.
I managed to carry the stricken dog, who was soaked and badly cut from barbed wire on the fence, to dry land.
We handed her over to animal welfare officers, who said they would make every effort to reunite the dog with her owners.
Captain Jeff Chadney added: “As the waters keep rising, she would’ve almost certainly been washed away to her death. You saved her life.”
The Cajun Navy are credited with stopping the death toll reaching the hundreds. Coming from across the US, towing aluminium boats, the sports fishermen and duck hunters’ only catch now are frightened victims.
We unloaded boat after boat as residents, their babies and pets were rescued from flooded Sour Lake, Hardin County.
There were no tears. Clutching all they have left in plastic bags and suitcases, each person showed relief that their nightmare was over. Among them were Charles Redmond, 56, his family and pot-bellied pig. “Everything we have is gone,” he said. “We were prepared. When we were hit in ‘94, we knew how powerful the floods could be but it was nothing like this.
“Some homes are up to 10ft under water. Everything’s destroyed.” He added: “The country is so grateful for the Cajun Navy. Without them, I do not dare think how many more people would’ve died.”
At least 37 deaths related to Harvey have been reported in Texas, among them