Posted on 08/17/2016 9:39:50 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Using just two airboats, Spinato and his team of five friends and employees of Ultimate Swamp Tours saved nearly 600 people who were stranded in Baton Rouge homes as the waters of the Louisiana Flood of 2016 rose around their feet. But on Monday, one of those boats went out for search and recovery.
...
The Westwego businessman was just one of hundreds who volunteered time, supplies and boats to help fill out the so-called Cajun Navy to support law enforcement and official first-responders as they transported stranded residents to dry land. Navigating unfamiliar streets-turned-waterways was just one of the difficulties they faced.
"You don't have a lot of time to think about it. You just do what you got to do," Spinato said. "You see what's in front of you, and you handle one thing at a time."
Volunteer fishermen and duck hunters and their boats began showing up as soon as it became clear that residents would need a lift. Frank Relle, a New Orleans photographer, hitched his boat to his trailer as soon as he saw the need was there.
"I thought yeah, you need as many boats as you can get up there," he said.
But the situation once he arrived was a difficult one to navigate in more ways than one.
"When you're going to an area that's inundated with floodwater, there's no boat launch, and there's no clear way if you're not familiar with roads in the area. ... There's no cell service, so your ability to to coordinate your location on a road you can't see signs on and navigate to an address that you can't see street signs on it's a very difficult thing to do," Relle said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Where’s Obama?
Where’s the national media?
One fortunate thing we are blessed with here on Lake Charlevoix, on northern Lake Michigan is the distinct lack of flooding here ever. we are about 635 ft. above sea level, and I am about 10 ft. above our lake. We have no wild fires. No mud slides. No earthquakes, no tornadoes to speak of, with the exception of a water spout or two very occasionally, and no droughts. It’s almost Heaven on Earth here, climatologically-wise. I feel sorry for the people down south.
Obozo is playing golf, of course.
The Mediascum is sleeping in again, since Shrillary is doing nothing.
bttt
“Wheres Obama?”.. Absent, well not really, he’s out playing golf and cannot be disturbed.
“Wheres the national media?” Covering his vacation scheduled and taking photo ops.
Post #4........
Wish I would have gotten rid of my boat. I would have driven all the way down there to get in that line.
Wheres Obama?
Wheres the national media?
If it were Syrians, Obama and the media would be all over it.
I don’t believe the media wanted to make a deal of it because it would disrupt Obama’s vacation. The democrats decide what is news.
True but the Winters suck.
If people didn’t build their houses in rivers, their houses would stay dry.
Don’t want them.
Looks like a bass fishin’ tournament to me......
What rivers, Arthur? Are you sure you know what’s going on here? Would you like to imagine what 24 inches of rain can do to places that have never flooded before? One percent of my entire state is homeless right now. Please lay off.
Which end of the lake? Charlevoix, BC or in between?
I know nothing about water abatement. But it would seem to me, that what with the *Army Corps of Engineers* and our longstanding tradition of water control, this greatest Nation could figure out some way to help these people in the delta, in the future.
We built great canals in the past. The Romans were experts, w/out diesel equipment. Why can’t someone figure out a way to channel the great flood waters toward east Texas, where they need water for irrigation? We know, it’s going to happen again.
Praying for these unfortunate folks.
Louisiana folks are unique; they figure out stuff for themselves, without waiting for the government to step in.
In the Best tradition of red-blooded Americans and the American way. God Bless them and keep them, every one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.