Houston: Rescue Efforts Suspended Due To Darkness

Rescues have been suspended overnight in Houston due to darkness. It's just too dangerous for crews to get out on the water.

As you can imagine it takes a lot of coordination to get the crews where they need to go.

With very little rest and fueled by adrenaline and an urgent desire to make a difference, swift water rescue teams from Oklahoma are constantly rescuing and evacuating people from Houston’s dangerous flood waters.

"Catastrophic,” said Pittsburg Co. Emergency Management Director Kevin Enloe. “It's amazing to me the amount of people who are still flooded."

Tulsa Fire Department Captain Trent Brennen added, “Some neighborhoods are untouched, the next neighborhood over it’s throughout the house.”

A tent with a command post set up inside gives out assignments and instructions. Crews get GPS coordinates.

"They're going to a lot of places where there is flooding and where people have run into trouble and need help,” explained Logistics Manager Micah Seidel.

Once people are rescued, crews radio in and arrangements are made to take flood victims to a shelter.

"If they have family that can come get them once they're on dry land, then we let them pick them up there,” said Danny Turner of the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.

The days are long, hot and tiring, but there are still so many lives at stake.