Posted on 08/24/2016 8:18:17 AM PDT by Terry L Smith
Amid the historic flooding many of the rescues in Acadiana, and across the state, are being credited to civilians.
They call themselves the "Cajun Navy."
The group started during Hurricane Katrina, when hundreds from Acadiana went to New Orleans with their boats to make rescues.
"Between us all, we took out quite a bit of people," said Doug Bienvenue, a member of the group.
Now the "Cajun Navy" is back, but the fleet is facing a few challenges.
Bienvenue is an original member of the fleet, so when GoFundMe accounts and t-shirt sales started popping up throughout flood relief under the "Cajun Navy" name, it didn't sit well with him.
"Cajun Navy does not sell anything like t-shirts," said Bienvenue. "We go out to help people, non-profit, from our hearts."
A Texas man tried to copyright the "Cajun Navy" brand, but couldn't. He said he had good intentions.
"Hoping to have a situation where I can help some of the flood victims," said the Texas man. "I have an employee who lives there in Greenwell Springs who lost everything."
And Louisiana State Senator Jonathan Perry is worried groups, like this one, need regulation and training.
"It's going to take some work, but it's very doable to eliminate the liability from the state and also put a cost," said Perry in an interview with KPEL Radio. "Even if it's at $25 or $50 training seminar where the person has some type of identification."
But Bievenue said what the group does has nothing to do with money or liability, it's simply saving lives.
"Nonprofit. That's what it's all about. It's about saving lives," said Bienvenue. "That's what it's about. We're not worried about what we have to go through, or how many hours we have to work."
See what that will get ya and I guarantee it will get you real quick too.
When it comes to big government there's little difference between Republican and Democrat (as parties) -- just look at how willing the Republican party's been on funding ObamaCare and ignoring the debt-ceiling.
And they guys will be ordered that they have to allow anyone who asks to “join” them, including transgender freaks and mohammedans.
Aha, thank you. I can’t watch for some reason, link takes me to a blank page, but it could be my computer. But maybe check link. If you can copy and post any info that would be good too, to get peoples’ attention.
There’s always someone who wants to regulate EVERYTHING!!!
Let the VOLUNTEER Cajun Navy do their own thing and keep out the regs and Bosses.
I found this:
http://www.katc.com/story/32827279/cajun-navy-faces-challenges-following-flood-rescues
Updated: Aug 24, 2016 11:32 AM PST
UPDATE Senator elaborates on his comments about Cajun Navy
snip
Perry said he’s working on legislation, based on similar circumstances that affect volunteer fire fighters, that would allow these type of volunteers to purchase a permit and undergo training that would relieve the state of liability for allowing them to bypass barricades to search for people in need of help.
State Police Troop I spokesman Master Trooper Brooks David said law enforcement’s hands are tied once a barricade goes up.
Louisiana law states that once a barricade goes up, no one can go around it, he said.
snip
Link to Perry’s FB page with video that usmcobra was referring to, I can’t see video but maybe that’s because I’m not a FB member; or maybe there are other links to the video. I did post a snip and link to article about this, and it does not seem like a bad think Perry is proposing. Reminds me of CERT training. The way lawyers are now, liability is something that needs to be taken into consideration even in rescue ops. Wish it wasn’t so, but it is. That is one reason why most Fire Departments are having fewer volunteers and more hired.
https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.j.perry.9
Only if they trained the Cajun Navy to be an actual militia would I be okay with this.
Also, the article did not mention Perry’s party affiliation, so I’ll give you three guesses, and the first two don’t count.
I thought Gretchen Carlson left. :-D
Well, guess I was wrong on No. 49. He could be a member of the Uniparty (TM), I suppose.
Good point. Never thought someone would “sue” someone who rescued them.
If the person got a broken ankle or something or their little dog got dropped in the water or etcetcetc. Sue happy people are the bane of volunteerism.
And then the issue of volunteers not being allowed to cross the yellow police tape; that is of importance too.
CERT volunteers get training and afaik no fees need be paid, and they do actually a lot in emergencies (could). Around here they help in fires etc doing traffic control and other stuff.
I can see the points of no gov interference at all but sadly, the insanity we currently live in, may justify it. No volunteer rescuer should get sued and have to fight it in court and maybe lose.
Dear Tol,
If you guessed ‘he’s a RINO’,
YOU WIN THE CUPIE DOLL!
Dear usmcobra,
The notion was brought forward this morning on “The Walton and Johnson Show”, that this Louisiana lege Perry was using the occasion to bring some media attention to himself.
Well, he got it. I heard him say it, on a posted video correctly, the first time, and now he is ‘doing a hillary’, because he got caught.
dear usm,
thanks for the facebook post, which i do not use facebook, since it is a CIA generated website.
dear rfreedom,
“green beans!”
What utter nonsense. First, no one need sign a waiver to participate in a not-criminalized-activity. Second, not every government erected barrier is legal and therferore crossing such barriers is not illegal,
Our intrusive governemnt is contnually trying to limit our freedom of movement so that someday you will only move by permission.
We are seeimg more and more road closures, travel restrictions, permit only, tolls, and qualifiers (HOV, electric, etc.). Time to stop.
Where was the government during all this you ask? Stopping the Cajun Navy from rescuing people!
"After three days helping victims of the Louisiana flood, volunteer Thomas Achord was piloting his boat back to shore when he saw authorities barricading the entry to the waterway in Livingston Parish.
“They were being friendly and they weren’t saying anything to us, but it was very clear that they were blocking things off,” said Mr. Achord. “It looked like they were purposefully getting in our way, and then they were directing traffic away from where people were putting their boats in the water.”
That was his last day as a member of the so-called Cajun Navy, the all-volunteer flotilla of Louisiana private boat owners credited with rescuing and helping countless thousands of marooned homeowners, livestock and pets at the outset of the flooding.
“After that, I didn’t go back out because I knew they were blocking off the main path that I could use to get to the water,” said Mr. Achord, a teacher and administrator at the Sequitur Classical Academy in Baton Rouge."
Talk of regulating Louisiana’s freewheeling Cajun Navy makes waves
Dear Vince,
Thanks for the article.
Remember ... “We are here from the government to ‘*’ you.”
I can say with much disdain, because i admit, i was ONE OF THEM THERE ‘HELPERS’!
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