How can I help? - Hurricane Harvey

[pearlbeer]

I'm in Austin and have two kayaks, and am an experienced paddler. I'm willing to go anywhere that people need help. Does anyone have any info on how best to assist in kayaks?

[Yaklash]

Stay put unless you have a monster truck or a tractor trailer. Most paths you would take to get to where you are needed are impassable. By the time things are clear, the need for kayaks will have passed. The armada of volunteers make me proud to be a Texan, and an American, but many of them got here before it got really bad or are from here.

A lot of the Texas National Guard are still trying to get to those areas and even they are having trouble. The best thing for most of us is to donate. Money, clothing, dry goods/non perishable food. Even better, get ready. Austin, Dallas and San Antonio will all get their fair share of displaced people. Help them when they get there with whatever you can do to supply them with things like toiletries, clothing and meals.

[TroutSupport.com]

I think that's a good call Andy.. Many many Texas Fishermen are banding togther and are already helping in the Houston Area.

It's hard not to feel the way PearlBeer does though. Hell, my boat is sitting in LaMarque with only the trailer to hold it down. But it's a whaler so I'm not worried about it. I also have total confidence in my Houston fishing friends to get done what needs to be done with this first rescue phase. Marsh boats, duck boats, airboats, and shallow draft boats have been at it since Saturday and are still at it now.

[pearlbeer]

I already made a run of donations to a local shelter. I feel I would be far more useful in the field. I may not be able to make it to Houston, but Columbus, La Grange....somewhere must need help. Kayak or not, surely there must be somewhere I can go to help out.

[Yaklash]

If you want to try to make it to those places or others (maybe the back side of neighborhoods behind the two reservoirs), it was not my intent to stop you. Absolutely not going to be turned away if you can get here. I think there must be some kind of network directing people from outside of the City to where they can help, but I don't know of it.

Something worth noting, for the rescues I am seeing, both on television and first hand Saturday when it was bad near me, a john boat is much more useful, with more capacity, quicker retrieval and more peace of mind to those being recued. The good use of a kayak I have seen first hand has been to pull an inflatable raft (also saw those done with a canoe), so if you come, come packing a tow rope or three, an an inflatable raft and every life vest you can get your hands on. The most needy are not going to want to get into a kayak and paddling the rafts themselves is so slow. Bring water for yourself and others if you can.

[The Riddler]

I'm up in Boston. I can't be there but if there's any collection going on items you may need or any help at all , please let me know.

[Cuervo Jones]

Mrs. Cuervo and I are cruising Columbus. The river is out of its banks and many businesses and roads are shut. The USGS is at what used to be Beason's park measuring flows and such. We're rescuing wildlife being as she's a certified wildlife rehabber and veterinary biomedical student at A&M. Be safe out there! The skies are clearing but the waters and dangers are rising.


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[TroutSupport.com]

I'm rolling out to Rockport today to lend a hand with the clean up.

Keep you guys posted if I can.

[troutslinger]

Good deal Tobin. I'd join ya if I could but every way I go outside the neighborhood I come to impassable roads. National Gauy had to evacuate the nursing home mom is in in Katy.

[Fishtolive]

Two nights ago, we had rescued two friend families due to their house flooded out. We had to walk in the dark with waist water deep for 7 blocks to escort them back to the main road so we could pick them up with our truck. And took them back to our house.
With my 3 kids, my wife and I have been volunteer to help out at the local shelter at St Theresa Church today.
So sad. Heard many heart broken stories from this storm.
Texans need to help Texans.

[TroutSupport.com]

Helped at 3 different homes today clearing away downed trees for elderly. Lot of chainsaw time in the sun.


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[Yaklash]

Helped at 3 different homes today clearing away downed trees for elderly. Lot of chainsaw time in the sun.

Good man. If you're still on the coast by the weekend, we'll be repairing the porch roof framing and putting new sheet metal on the front half of the fish camp. Stop by. Not much use for a chain saw, but there will be something to do.

[murraycamp]

Anyone in Beaumont/Port Arthur right now? Thinking about loading up with as many 5 gal. jugs of fresh water as I can and heading down there.

[pearlbeer]

UPDATE:

I was in Houston yesterday. The damage is just, so, so bad. Houses everywhere are flooded. Here is my takeaway:

1) Seems like they had enough boats on the water and primary Search and Rescue was complete.
2) MANY MANY areas are still inaccessible due to high water. The water has to drain out before people can get back to their houses and asses the damage. This seems to be happening now, but there is just so much water.
3) HELP IS NEEDED. Houses that can be salvaged will have to be demo'ed quickly - carpet, drywall, etc. out before the mold sets in.
4) Seems like there was a ton of great help with boats. The issue I see is everyone wants to be a superhero and rescue people. That is awesome - but there is just going to be such a MASSIVE need for help with clean up. We need to get people back in their homes and that will require a massive amount of manpower. If you can find someone to help - do it. (Respirators, gloves, carpet knives, pry-bars, trash sacks, bleach, chainsaws - bring stuff like that.)
5) GIVE. Give money and goods until it hurts. Then please give some more. You just can't imagine the devastation.

[FishingSETX]

Anyone in Beaumont/Port Arthur right now? Thinking about loading up with as many 5 gal. jugs of fresh water as I can and heading down there.

Dont think you can get here yet, but when you can, those jugs of fresh water will be GREATLY appreciated! Beaumont has beeen without city water all day and they are estimating about a week more.

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

[TroutSupport.com]

Way to go guys!
Add a sledge hammer or mini sledge to the list of items per even a hammer to break out drywall. That's what we're doing today.

Small tarps are good to pile leaves and move to street.

If you can make it anywhere along the closest to help cleanup even just a day or 2, that's a huge help, man if everyone did that we could get everyone's lives back pretty fast. Many will deal with the emotional side of it for years, let's take this part off their shoulders.

Here's a pic from yesterday, we spent 6 hours helping at Rodney's house. Rodney is 68 and lives alone in Rockport. We too multiple big oaks and branches off his house.




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[TroutSupport.com]

The crew is Amanda and Jay from Heros on the Water, Justin Styles Feel Free Kayaks, Me, and a buddy from 2cool Randy Tinney


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[jnd1959]

Thanks for helping Tobin. After I deal with our property and get past tax deadline I plan on going down to fish and help. I experienced the war zone that was New Orleans with my son living there.
There will be a lot to do a couple of months from now. If your down there then, just plug into a local church or charity, they will point you in the right direction.

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[Yaklash]

Crap!! My task just got tougher. Nephew who was going to help put up the new roof panels just got called up - Army talk for "get here yesterday."

[TroutSupport.com]

Ahhh hell!


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[TroutSupport.com]

I'll try to see where you guys are after I leave Rockport Sunday.... ya'll probably have it knocked out by the time I get there though.

[Yaklash]

I'll try to see where you guys are after I leave Rockport Sunday.... ya'll probably have it knocked out by the time I get there though.

Thanks. Would not have hurt to have a beer though, but we got 'er done. One of my bro's other son's, a fireman, got off an extended shift, went home, grabbed a few hours of sleep, kissed the wife and kids & then loaded his truck and made it down by mid-day Sunday (first responders rock). Thank God, because two old farts and a teenager who'd been up all night fishing were pretty worn out by then. End of day Sunday we had the porch framing re-built and all of the new roof on. Sunday we put on the ridge cap and screwed the lap seams together. Meanwhile the sister in law was taking care of everything indoors with mildew and clean-up, as well as meals. We got it all taken care of, but probably should replace the door.

[TroutSupport.com]

Good to hear buddy. Man, I'm glad ya'll got it done.
I'm wiped out from 5 days of it in Rockport. Did you stay and fish Monday?

[Yaklash]

Good to hear buddy. Man, I'm glad ya'll got it done.
I'm wiped out from 5 days of it in Rockport. Did you stay and fish Monday?

Dayton fished off the pier at night but we worked all Sat & Sun, plus till 2:00 on Labor Day. Those three days in Seadrift beat my @$$, so no fishing for me....also need to get my license