VIDEO: Neoteric Hovercraft Perform Texas Flood Rescues

After being hit with catastrophic storms this month, much of Texas – including Houston, the fourth-largest city in the U.S. - has been turned into a flood disaster zone. Massive search and rescue operations are ongoing, hindered by debris in the floodwaters and by continuing rain causing flash floods from already-swollen rivers.

The one positive note for this storm-battered state is that several Texas fire departments operate Neoteric rescue hovercraft, which are saving victims in areas that boats and other rescue vehicles can’t reach.

The CBS news video below shows one example. At 6:30 this morning in a suburb of Dallas, a woman became trapped on top of her submerged car when a nearby creek suddenly overflowed. Just fifteen minutes later, Wylie Fire-Rescue first responders rescued her in their Neoteric hovercraft before she suffered any injuries.

Here you can see for yourself how easily the Rescue HoverTrek operates in shallow, debris-filled water and has the unique maneuverability for up-close access to victims without forcing first responders to enter the water …

The newscasters immediately grasped the importance of hovercraft in flood rescue operations:
“A hovercraft is sometimes the easiest way for the rescuers to get to folks surrounded by these waters … You can’t go out in normal boats because you don’t know what kind of debris is out there … These hovercraft are just a much more effective way …”

Scores of people remain missing, and the death toll in Texas is likely to rise since more storms are expected to batter the state this weekend.  Tragically, the death toll includes first responders - and victims lost to failed rescue attempts by vehicles that can't perform as well as hovercraft in flood rescue operations. A firefighter in Claremore, Oklahoma lost his life when he drowned in muddy water while trying to rescue children, and another firefighter was injured in the same incident. One person died and three are missing in Houston after being swept away when a rescue boat capsized.

Extreme weather events such as this are becoming more and more common. We at Neoteric urge first responders to consider the value of a hovercraft for water, ice, mud and flood rescue operations. It's the most effective vehicle for fast, safe rescues, and it keeps your team above the danger – not in it.

See more Texas flood hovercraft rescues …

Neoteric  Hovercraft Rescues Texas Flood Victims

DRONE VIDEO: Neoteric Hovercraft Searches for Texas Flood Victims

VIDEO: Moncton’s Neoteric Hovercraft Prepares to Rescue Snowmobilers

The spring melt is well underway in many parts of the world, and those areas where first responders have a Neoteric hovercraft available for ice rescues are exceptionally well-prepared. Those that don’t? Well, you might want to watch this video about the Moncton Fire Department in Canada …

Moncton’s first responders are not only equipped with the most effective ice, mud and water rescue vehicle available, they’ve thoroughly trained to use it. When they purchased their craft in 2012, Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald, who is Hovercraft Training Centers’ Senior Flight Instructor, traveled to Canada with HTC Flight Instructor Steve Stafford to conduct intensive pilot training on Moncton’s new 6-passenger rescue hovercraft.

Moncton’s training was interesting – it included having the hovercraft run over a firefighter! Canada’s Global News reported, “Moncton Fire Department Captain Steve Crawford said it was a “strange sensation” to have the department’s new hovercraft run him over in the city’s McLaughlin Road reservoir yesterday. Crawford played the victim in a demonstration of its latest piece of high-tech emergency equipment. Wearing a helmet and life jacket, he was dropped into the water, and then the hovercraft, piloted by Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc. founder Chris Fitzgerald, flew out to rescue him. To demonstrate just how safe the craft is, Fitzgerald literally drove over Crawford before the sopping wet firefighter was scooped out of the water.”

“You know it’s not going to hurt you, but it’s a strange sensation to have any sort of craft fly over you,” Crawford said.

During training, Fire Chief Eric Arsenault said the hovercraft is a “great addition to our toolbox,” adding it is quicker to deploy than a boat. The hovercraft can be taken from its trailer and be in the water in minutes.

Hundreds of people die in ice-related accidents each year in the United States alone, but many fire departments and rescue organizations haven’t yet recognized the importance of hovercraft as an ice, mud and water rescue tool. “You need fire departments like Moncton that are prepared to be first adopters,” Fitzgerald said. “They’re really pioneers.”

How can your department determine if a hovercraft would improve you first responders’ rescue capabilities? An easy, low-cost way is to take a hovercraft Test Flight or Flight Training Course.

Read how first responders use their Neoteric rescue hovercraft ...

VIDEO: Neoteric Rescue Hovercraft in use around the world

Neoteric rescue hovercraft are being utilized to save lives in nations all around the world, and here’s just one example. Early this year, Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald traveled to Hanoi to deliver two new Neoteric Rescue HoverTreks to Tuyet Nga Co. Ltd., a security and rescue equipment supplier. As Hovercraft Training Centers’ Senior Flight Instructor, Fitzgerald also conducted flight and maintenance training for Tuyet Nga personnel as well as first responders from Vietnam’s National Department of Rescue & Relief.

At Viet Nam’s Emergency Response Training headquarters near Hanoi, Chris Fitzgerald (5^th from left)
and officials from Tuyet NGA and the Department of Rescue and Relief
join hands in a symbolic gesture of partnership.

The hovercraft are great assets to a nation so often plagued by floods and monsoons. And professional pilot training is also a great asset – especially when it teaches you how to train others. In this recent video, the pilots trained by Chris Fitzgerald are conducting training in Vietnam for additional first responders from Brigade 249 of the Public Affairs Command, who will utilize the hovercraft for search & rescue and military operations …

Learn more about Neoteric Hovercraft ...