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
