CAPE COD, Mass. — As Houston continues to assess the incredible damage left by Hurricane Harvey, one local search and rescue crew who helped save one hundred people in three days recounts their experience.
About a week ago, the Cape Cod US Coast Guard team flew down to Houston to help out those stuck in the floods caused by Hurricane Harvey.
Even for a crew of men ready to take on anything, this was no ordinary assignment. They readily admit that at times, even they were caught off guard.
"When we were able to come into Houston, when we were able to see the ground everyone in the aircraft was a little taken aback from the damage from the storm," said US Coast Guard Lieutenant Joshua Rice.
Lieutenant Joshua Rice's words are powerful since he was a rescue diver during Hurricane Katrina.
"It kind of brought that rush of emotion that this is happening again." he said.
These men worked relentlessly to ensure everyone who needed help was being rescued - even if it meant working eight hours non stop - traveling from neighborhood to neighborhood.
"Rather than wasting the time to fly them to where they needed to be, as long as they were safe in the back of the helicopter, we would continue to rescue all the other folks in the area," Lieutenant Commander Simon Greene said.
From pregnant women going into labor to those in terrible health conditions, so many people needed help.
"At times we had 30, or 40 people standing under the helicopter," Greene said.
Incredibly, the Cape Cod Coast Guard crew was able to save a staggering 100 people from the relentless wind and rain, not to mention with the tight time constraints.
Lieutenant Rice says most of the people rescued were emotionless, in shock of the trauma they have just experienced. The crew, despite preparing for situations like this, are still processing their three days in Houston themselves.
"Being able to see smiles, those were occasional, but most of the time it was, I think the tears of joy and a little bit of sorrow at the same time," said Rice.
This group made rescues for three days and then remained on the ground coordinating their fellow crews before returning home to the Cape late on Friday night.
A commander with the US Coast Guard tells Boston 25 News there were 37 people from Air Station Cape Cod's Aviation Unit who supported the effort in Houston.
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