The Cajun Navy storms to the rescue once again. Who exactly are they?

Aug 31, 2021 at 05:16 PM CDT

cajun navy hurricane

The Cajun Navy immediately went into search and rescue mode following the devastating effects of Hurricane Ida. While these boaters are well known in the South, many are learning about these volunteers’ work for the first time.

Tags: Society at Large

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JIMMIE JOHNSON: BEFORE, DURING, AND FOLLOWING HURRICANE IDA’S DIRECT HIT ON LOUISIANA, POSTS, AND IMAGES ABOUT THE CAJUN NAVY LIT UP SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT’S A NAME WE HEAR SO OFTEN DURING NATURAL DISASTERS.

BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THE CAJUN NAVY?

LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT.

WITH PARTS OF LOUISIANA UNDERWATER AND IN DARKNESS, THE CAJUN NAVY SPRANG INTO ACTION.

SCENES WE HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF TIMES BEFORE.

AND NOT JUST IN THE BAYOU – AS THESE IMAGES FROM HURRICANE FLORENCE IN NORTH CAROLINA PROVE.

THE CAJUN NAVY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE U-S NAVY.

IT’S MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS, MANY OF WHO ARE PRIVATE BOAT OWNERS, WHO COME TO RESCUE FOLLOWING HURRICANES AND OTHER DEVASTATING WEATHER EVENTS.

THERE’S ALSO NO OFFICIAL CAJUN NAVY. IT’S MADE OF DIFFERENT GROUPS — LIKE UNITED CAJUN NAVY – WHOSE WEBSITE ANNOUNCES WHEN ITS MEMBERS ARE ON ACTIVE DEPLOYMENT.

THIS GROUP, TOUTING THEMSELVES AS THE OFFICIAL LOUISIANA CAJUN NAVY, SHARED A VIDEO OF THEMSELVES GEARING UP BEFORE THE STORM HIT.

PINNACLE SEARCH AND RESCUE IS ANOTHER CAJUN NAVY ORGANIZATION.

AND THEY OFFER THIS HISTORY OF THE CAJUN NAVY ON THEIR WEBSITE.

IN 2005, DURING HURRICANE KATRINA, A PLEA WAS PUT OUT BY LOCAL OFFICIALS FOR VOLUNTEERS WITH BOATS TO ASSIST WITH THE RESCUE EFFORTS OF THOUSANDS OF STRANDED CITIZENS.

WITH THAT THE CAJUN NAVY WAS BORN.

FAST FORWARD 16 YEARS. TWITTER IS PACKED WITH PHONE NUMBERS OF CAJUN NAVY VOLUNTEERS AVAILABLE TO RESCUE ANYONE IN NEED.

CALLS FOR HELP ARE ALSO BEING SHARED ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA USING THE HASHTAG CAJUN NAVY.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE CAJUN NAVY, AN AD-HOC GROUP OF HERO VOLUNTEERS COMING TO THE RESCUE ONCE AGAIN.

DID WE GET THAT STRAIGHT? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

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