Eye on the Tropics

Hurricane Harvey: 'People care about people,' Florida sends help to Houston

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, so it’s no surprise that Gov. Rick Scott is helping Texas while it continues to feel the brunt from Hurricane Harvey.

The governor announced Monday that he has deployed additional Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers to Houston in their search and rescue operations.

“Hurricane Harvey was the largest storm to impact Texas in more than 50 years, and it is crucial that we continue to work together to help our fellow Gulf Coast state during their time of need. I was glad to speak with Gov. Abbott this morning to let him know Florida is sending more resources and we stand ready to offer Texas our continued support. We will keep Texas families in our thoughts and prayers," Scott said.

More than 60 officers and nearly 20 boats will be deployed to Texas. This is in addition to the 25 FWC officers, 17 high water vehicles, two Mobile Command Centers, eight shallow draft vessels and four patrol boats that left Saturday night.

John and Sharon Mixon spent the day inside their Houston home of 60 years cleaning up what they could before the next relentless round of rain comes through. Their home flooded, but they told Channel 9's Lauren Seabrook that they are thankful not to end up like hundreds of other people who had to be rescued.

"There was one time when the water was just gushing under this front door and coming on on this side door that I wanted to call somebody to come get me and get me the hell out of here. But we managed to make it," Sharon Mixon said.

The mindset forced John Mixon to change his stubborn mindset.

"I've never been one to take head to the news. I've stayed right here through hurricanes and everything, but not anymore, I'll leave," John Mixon said.

The Mixon's predict they got about 25 inches of rain at their house.

The couple said they're thankful volunteers from across the country have dropped everything to come save south Texas.

"People care about people, and that's what it's all about," John Mixon said.

Staff from Red Cross in Florida is also helping in Texas. Salvation Army from Florida is staged in Baton Rouge and is waiting on Harvey response, the governor said.

The city of Orlando's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 4 team is also on its way to Texas to help.

A group of 40 citizen airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing from Patrick Air Force Base are on their way to help in the hurricane relief.

"We train constantly for situations like this. Our airmen our highly specialized and have the ability to utilize their expert combat life-saving skills and aircraft to provide relief and rescue," said Col. Kurt Matthews, 920 RQW commander, who flew disaster relief missions during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 which led to 1,043 lives saved.