Lifelong Friends Working to Save Hurricane Harvey Victims

| September 7, 2017

HOUSTON, Tx. (EYT) – Two Clarion County natives are working together to assist with rescue efforts following the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

(Pictured above: Beers on the left, and Rhoades on the right. Photo courtesy Nashville Fire Department’s Facebook page, )

Lifelong friends Chase Rhoades, 32, and Anthony Beers, 33, are working as Waterways Conservation Officers for the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission. Rhoades is originally from Emlenton while Beers is a Kossuth native. Rhoades has lived and worked in Berks County since 2010, while Beers lives in New Bethlehem and has worked there since 2009.

Rhoades and Beers are part of the PFBC’s Swiftwater Emergency Response Team (SWERT) and the Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team.

Both served in the U.S. Air Force before becoming WCOs for the Fish and Boat Commission. In Houston, they worked together performing boat rescues and making sure people had supplies.

Their six-man team was deployed on August 31 to assist with relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. They are a relatively new team, and they have been training for such rescues.

Chase and his wife, Sarah, now live in Berks County. Sarah shared some of her husband’s experiences.

“They went door to door doing welfare checks and getting people out that needed help,” Sarah said. “I’m incredibly proud of him, but I’m also very happy he is coming home.”

Sarah said one of Chase’s remarks was “how thankful and appreciative everyone was.”

“Even if they chose to stay in their homes, they were very happy to know that someone cared about them.”

Tony’s wife, Cassie, explained some of her husband’s work.

“He was a team leader, and they met twice a day to go over what needed to be done and where they had to be to check on everyone,” Cassie said. “He said they had to be careful in some areas where the electric was still on, and they also had to be alert for armed looters.”

“We weren’t sure if they’d be working out of helicopters or boats because they are both certified to do both. But, I know we were both happy they weren’t working out of helicopters.”

“They thought there was a chance they’d stay down there to be ready for (Hurricane) Irma, but I’m happy they get a chance to come home.”

“They were sleeping on yoga mats at Texas A & M’s Reed Arena.”


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