[Brian Belcher]

I did 2 days in Orange and Vidor TX. Hardest two days of life.
I took my 14' flat bottom with 18 hp Nissan engine and my 17' x41" beam, Old Towne canoe. I drug the canoe behind my johnboat.
Was able to use engine in 75% of the time. The other 25% was dragging, pulling, pushing, cussing and crying.
I got around 40 people. 20 dogs and cats and 1 horse. Yes. A horse. I walk/swam her about 100 yds, to my boat, than used my trolling motor to get her to the owner.

It was the most infuriating thing I've ever been part of. The whole recovery operation. I was boat 33 of arund 150 to 175 boats, air boats, monster trucks yes, 4 monster trucks). There were SEVERAL that were using the opportunity to just play. The air boats were useless cause they couldn't close to the homes. THEY HAVE NO REVERSE !!!! I watched one trying to turn around in a wet field only to blow the side part of the roof, off from the wind it creates. The monster trucks just drove up and down I-10 with bikini clad girls in the back, drinking beer.
Their wake would nearly swamp those of us actually effing working.
Boys, I'm proud of what I did and I will do it again but to see the MSM giving all the credit to these 4 trucks and showing the high dollar air boats like they were doing the brunt of the recoveries.
Not so.
It was us little guys that could get close to the homes and load the elderly without destroying their home. And it mostly was the elderly because they had no way to get out.
I'm sorry for being so sour but I wish I coud have videoed what I'm saying. Us johnboat boys weren't hunting for the MSM to get our high dollar machines on the news.
There. I'm done. Like I said, we worked our asses off. I'm so fricking sore and stoved up today buy I'm glad I did it and I WILL DO IT AGAIN,
GOD BLESS TEXAS AND LOUISANA !

[Chief Ray]

Thanks for your efforts, I agree from what we saw on TV the air boats could not get the job done in most cases. Be proud of what you did and the folks you helped will never forget you.

Thanks Ray

[TCJ95Z-235]

Brian,
Thank You for all you were able to do. God Bless the USA and all the PEOPLE LIKE YOU who gave and will continue to give of themselves to help out others in need. As Chief Ray stated " Be proud of what you did. THE FOLKS YOU HELPED WILL NEVER FORGET YOU"

Thanks again,
Tim