Several Greene County firefighters recently drove straight down to Texas to help the victims affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Jefferson Fire Chief Jack Williams says he and six other firefighters drove 17-hours straight from Jefferson to Beaumont, Texas on Tuesday, August 29th. However, when they got there with their three rescue boats, they were told to go to Port Arthur instead. Once there, Williams says they worked 48-hours straight. They rescued between 70 to 80 people, 30 horses from a barn, a dog and a cat. He talks about how demanding of a job they had to do when they were down there.

“It was very (physically) taxing. Since we’ve been back like most of us have done nothing but slept. It was hard. We basically ate crackers and cheese, and I think like one ham sandwich and the rest was bottled water, because everything else was so hard to find.”

Williams points out how impressed he was with the organization of mass rescues of victims.

“It was a very good experience, especially for some of the firemen who have never done anything like that. And just seeing how well organized the Texas police and sheriff’s offices were, and fire departments on how to get the rescues out.”

Williams notes they responded to help following a “call for assistance” from Texas officials.

Making the trip with Williams were Mike Wahl, Terry Becker, Garrett Reidesal, Nate Byerly and James and Joe Doran.