Local man puts his air boat to work in local rescues

Posted 5:15 p.m. An air boat is not a common sight in Houston’s suburbs.

But for the last two days, James Dobson’s flatboat, with its bright green propeller on the back, has been a regular fixture in flood-ravaged neighborhoods in the city.

After hearing the warnings about Hurricane Harvey, Dobson lugged the boat out of Galveston Bay, where he uses it to fish, and put it to work in Houston, rescuing residents out of flooded homes and apartments.

“I just can’t stand to see people standing on their roofs,” Dobson said.

On Sunday, Dobson, who works as a manger for an oil company, boated about 45 Houstonians out of apartment complexes along Buffalo Bayou, near Post Oak.

He and his wife headed to Braeswood Monday afternoon with their air boat in tow to find the neighborhood nearly empty.

Other volunteer groups and the Coast Guard had already evacuated residents who wanted to leave.

About 2 p.m., Dobson stood in knee-deep water along Brays Bayou, at South Braeswood and South Rice, deciding where to go next.

Trying to help isn’t without frustrations. If there were a group organizing volunteers across the city, he could be more effective, Dobson said. Based on news reports, he planned to head to Fort Bend next.

The Galleria resident guessed he’d be out for at least another day in his air boat. The company he works for has a board meetings scheduled, but, Dobson said with a grin, looking up at the rain, “I think they’re going to be cancelled.”