STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) – For U.S. Coast Guard members, helping with Hurricane Harvey search and rescue has brought a sense of pride.
“It was quite the experience, very humbling experience,” said Petty Officer First Class Daniel Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was one of 16 crew members from the Sturgeon Bay station that made the trip to Texas.
The crews assisted with rescue efforts, mainly in Houston and Port Arthur, working long days, many times without a place to sleep or shower.
“Wherever we could fit, wherever we could fit our crew, we would sleep on air mattresses, in reality it didn’t matter where we slept, as long as we were helping out,” explained Rodriguez.
He says during his time in Texas, he saved around 20 people, in what he says is a rescue mission he will never forget.
“The first family that we came across, they were up in the attic, there was five children, we were able to get them safety to a neighboring home.”
He says the ongoing efforts also took a toll on their equipment.
“Some areas were flooded, some areas weren’t, so transitioning to those flooded areas did cause some damage to the assets we were using.”
Moving from Hurricane Harvey, as Hurricane Irma approaches the Florida coast.
Rodriguez says the Coast Guard is ready to step up and help once again.
“This is what we’re trained for, this is what we’re ready for, we’ll do it again.”
Beyond the 16 Sturgeon Bay coast guard members, 15 others from around the state also helped out.
