KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Houston deals with a devastating and tragic aftermath left from Hurricane Harvey, people from the metro continue to offer a helping hand.
Three personnel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district in Kansas City were sent to Texas starting last Friday.
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Since getting to Houston, the group has helped fill sandbags and oversee recovery efforts.
“The Fort Worth district requested that we send one of our sandbag filling machines to Texas and we sent a two man team with it on Friday,” explained U.S. Army Corps of Engineers member Jud Kneuvean. “Pretty much all they can tell us is that it’s rained non-stop since they've been there."
Kneuvan told 41 Action News that after seeing the harsh situation in Texas, the group has had to deal with some of the elements firsthand.
“All the material they're working with is completely saturated,” he explained. “When they fill their sandbags and they put them down, they basically just seep water."
Kneuvan said the Corps of Engineers may send more personnel to Texas as devastation becomes clearer after the hurricane.
Later this week, a team from a new tree-cutting business in the metro will also head to Houston.
Owner Chuck Patrick said after hearing about the flooding and heavy rain in Texas, he wanted to assist in the recovery.
“I just know from seeing it in the past what hurricanes can do and how bad it can be,” he explained. “With that much damage, I know how long it's going to take and any little bit helps."
Before departing this upcoming Wednesday, Patrick said he has been getting his trucks and equipment ready for the journey.
On Monday, he expected his group to be very busy once they get to Texas.
“When I get there, we're pretty much flying by the seat of our pants doing what we know how to do,” he explained. “As soon as we see another need, we want to do anything we can to help out. Even just putting tarps over somebody's roof to keep it from flooding further, we’ll slowly pick up on that."
Patrick said seeing the situation firsthand may be tough, but he wanted to offer help to the many people in need.
“We're going to be setting up tents and camping out in Walmart parking lots if we have to,” he explained. “Somebody needs help and somebody else may not be able to get to them but we can."
Despite Houston being over 700 miles away from Kansas City, Patrick said it was important to lend a helping hand following the devastation from Hurricane Harvey.
“I think this is an opportunity to see that we are all still Americans and we all stick together,” he explained.
To help fund his group’s trip to Texas, Patrick is collecting donations. To donate, visit this site.
Patrick said he plans to post videos of his team’s work in Texas to Facebook and record how each donated dollar will be spent.
