Local Citizens Answer the Call During Hurricane Harvey

 

“None of us did it for the recognition, but rather for our fellow man. It’s all about helping people,” says Freestone County resident, Richard McGowan, about his time spent in South Texas during rescue efforts following Hurricane Harvey.

McGowan, together with his son Tristen McGowan, A.J. Sandlin, Michael Peterson, Chris Padget, and Paul Barker, took two personal boats to help with water rescues.

According to McGowan, who is a Reserve Deputy with the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office, he and his comrades were able to assist in taking more than 100 persons and family pets to safety in the Cline, Spring, Cypress Creek, Katy, Beaumont, Vidor, and Orange areas.

In McGowan’s boat, a Navy Medic and a Commissioner were on board at one point and paramedics at another time, as they were concentrating on evacuating persons with medical issues.

“We had to navigate down flooded streets, watching out for vehicles and mailboxes under water,” he explains. “We also had to be careful of any power lines in the area.”

McGowan says that they often had to get into the water to hold the boats in place while people were boarding and he actually carried a couple of elderly women from their homes.

“The scariest thing that happened while we were there was having to do a swift water rescue when Paul’s boat got drawn under in the current,” explains McGowan.

While in Cline, the water was moving violently like a river down a 4-lane road. At an intersection where five roads converged, it created a heavy current that sucked the boat into some trees and subsequently capsized it.

“The water was moving so fast, I had my boat in highest gear and we were barely moving,” he continues. “We had one chance to get these guys, and thankfully we were successful; but I’ll never forget the looks on their faces!”

After this event, they left that area because it was too dangerous.

“When rescuers have to rescue each other, it’s time to get out,” says McGowan.

According to McGowan, in many of the areas they were located, there were no first responders and therefore they looked to the Texas Navy, Cajun Navy, Orange Rescue, and Orange Boat Club for help and directions. “We couldn’t have done it without all of them,” he says.

“We’ve had people thanking us and offering us money to help recoup costs we incurred by going down there,” McGowan explains. “We don’t need the money. We only need blessings from the people and our families. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!”