Cajun Navy' heads to Texas to aid Harvey rescues

Private boat owners from Houston and surrounding areas are using their vessels to assist first responders who are trying to rescue scores of people stranded by the floods from Tropical Storm Harvey. (Aug. 28) AP

An informal network of good Samaritans with small watercraft is once again mobilizing — this time in the wake of unprecedented flooding in Houston.

Formed 12 years ago after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the so-called Cajun Navy, which has saved thousands of stranded people, by some estimates, is already helping rescue stranded Texans, one member said Sunday.

“There’s no telling how many are already over there,” said 39-year-old Joey Hains of Lafayette, La. “Basically everybody that’s wanting to go help out” is going or has already arrived, he said.

The Good Samaritans dubbed the ‘Cajun Navy’ who rescued hundreds, of people during Louisiana’s Great Flood of 2016 are not happy after a state lawmaker announced that he wants government regulations on future actions by the citizen heroes.

In response to the Houston flooding, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards sent a search-and-rescue team with from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, The (Baton Rouge) Advocate reported on Sunday.

"I can't look at somebody knowing that I have a perfect boat in my driveway to be doing this and to just sit at home," Jordy Bloodsworth told The Advocate. "I have every resource within 100 feet of me to help.” He was headed to Texas overnight on Sunday.

Lately, the group has taken to communicating via the smartphone app Zello, a kind of digital citizens’ band (CB) radio. Hains added, “Just listening today, there were probably, just from this area, an easy 100 people.”