.jpg)
When I introduce Eric Chretien to people in the river
surfing community I always introduce him as Monkey and then proceed to tell
them that Monkey is the world’s best jet ski support driver for any river.
Eric, being the modest person that he is, corrects me and and says, ‘actually
it’s Eric, and he’s just joking’. Joking or not, Monkey’s resume is world class
and when talking river surfing he stands above and beyond anyone else as the
man you can trust with your life.
It is mid-August 2016, and Louisiana is inundated with a
flood of Biblical proportions. According to press reports, the ceaseless
rain has killed at least 13, and forced tens of thousands more from their
homes. More than two feet of rain has fallen over the course of five
days, and forecasts show more possibly coming, which can lead to
even more flash flooding. There is basically nowhere for the water to go.
Press reports have also stated that more than 30,000 people
have been rescued in the flooding, surely making it one of the country’s
largest water rescue operations in history, though I have not seen the
statistics to back that claim up.
As a currently-serving member of a municipal water rescue
team myself, by way of my city’s paid-professional fire department, that number
sounds incredible. In this author’s head, I envision countless water
rescue teams, augmented by many civilians in their own boats, spread across the
state of Louisiana, picking people off of submerged cars, the roofs of
submerged houses, and possibly even from half-submerged trees.
Read more; SOFREP
Shirley was trapped in the rising flood waters. We had to remove her from the flooded home along with all of her dogs. Cajun Navy at work. Louisiana Flood Footage.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. WAVY- On Sunday down at the 1st Street Jetty at Rudee Inlet, crews fought back against fierce rip currents and 15-to-20 ...
