United Cajun Navy helps Vidor residents clear storm debris

United Cajun Navy volunteers spent Friday helping Vidor residents remove storm debris from their properties following recent severe weather.

The organization completed two debris-removal jobs Friday, with six volunteers involved in the field operations, according to Josh Gill, incident commander for the United Cajun Navy.

In one case, an elderly resident had a tree fall and partially block the back of the driveway. The tree also damaged a fence. The resident's son contacted the United Cajun Navy for help.

Volunteers brought in a mini excavator and chainsaw crew to remove the tree and debris.

The second request came from a family of four whose backyard tree fell and crushed a trampoline.

"We helped remove that tree and put it into a pile that they can burn later on," Gill said.

Gill said storm recovery can be overwhelming for residents who are also dealing with other problems, including spoiled food after power outages.

"So, we're just providing some assistance to these people," Gill said.

The six-person team included equipment operators, drivers, safety observers and chainsaw crew members.

Gill said residents typically request assistance through the United Cajun Navy's social media pages. Before Friday's work, volunteers had spent several days in the area conducting residential check-ins, meeting with residents and completing preparation work before bringing in heavier equipment.

The organization has had volunteers in the area for several days, including a meteorologist who has been working with the team.

Gill said the United Cajun Navy is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) organization that matches volunteers with roles based on their skills and the needs of each operation.

Volunteers may assist with commodity distribution, humanitarian aid, chainsaw operations and equipment operation. Gill said specialized roles, such as searching for missing people, require additional qualifications and are assigned to volunteers suited for those missions.

The organization remains available to assess additional requests for assistance in the area.

"We just have a get it done attitude," Gill said.

Residents seeking assistance can contact the United Cajun Navy through its website or social media pages.

Gill said the organization also asks people to keep those affected by disasters and personal hardships in their prayers.