Even though they incurred damages to their boats and motors, expenses
and various personal injuries, Captain Sam says the Cajun Navy isn’t about
adding up the cost of saving lives. He says this isn’t the first time, and it
certainly won’t be the last, that Louisiana outdoorsmen put their boats in
the water and head into the wake of a storm to help. He says, “If there’s a
weather disaster, they will show up, period.”
With this in mind, Captain Sam has some guidance for those volunteering to help in future catastrophes. “The two most essential things for
any boat operator to have is mobility and communication.” He explains
that mobility means first and foremost, the boat has to be in good working
condition. There must be both an operator and a deckhand on each boat,
plenty of food, water, and lifejackets, and everyone on the rescue mission
has to be physically well. “If the boat operator doesn’t take care of himself
and his basic needs, he can’t work optimally to rescue others.” Captain
Sam says trustworthy communication is imperative also. When cell phone
towers no longer work, people in boats must have clear contact with local
municipal authorities and with other boat operators. He recommends
every boat owner use VHF handheld radios on channel 68 or 69 during an
emergency to know where to go and to be able to feed vital information
to other volunteers. When AT&T went out completely, Captain Sam maintained contact with law enforcement in East Baton Rouge parish and was
able to participate safely in rescue efforts in teams dispatched throughout
the week.
After his long weekend in the affected areas, Jared Serigné agrees
with Captain Sam. “The last thing we need is people going into the situation who end up needing to be rescued themselves.” He says boat owners
who wish to participate in rescue efforts should consider swiftwater rescue
training to be most effective in the future.
Ryan Romero, a boat owner from Sulfur, Louisiana, volunteered to
work with the National Guard in Baton Rouge and Lafayette during the
worst days of the flooding. He describes the Cajun Navy as a group of bighearted men and women who simply want to use what they have to help
wherever they can. This is the spirit of the Cajun Navy. “Regardless of
where tragedy occurs, we will always pull together and help others.”
Weather tragedies of this magnitude are horrific to experience, but in
the midst of them, here in Louisiana, we find moments of pure gold in the
character of those affected and in the generosity and kindness of their
community. Personally, I’m proud to have taught some of the very men
who mobilized teams and gave their time and skills to be of service, proud
of the selfless efforts of all of the members of the Cajun Navy, and proud
to call Louisiana home.