A Citrus County man loaded up his boat and headed to Texas to help people in need right after Harvey battered the state's east coast.

  • James Creel of Crystal River helping in Port Arthur, TX
  • Creel using Zello app as walkie talkie to find people needing help
  • Creel says work far from over

Crystal River resident James Creel has been helping with water rescues in Port Arthur near Beaumont, Texas.  His parents, meanwhile have been staying in touch with him as often as they can.

Creel has been keeping them updated with pictures along the way.

"I know people out there, myself as a mother, thinking about all the children, that was my first thought of all these babies mothers and children to be rescued, that he would do and be able to accomplish and more proud than I could say," Debbie Creel, Creel's mother, said.

The parents say Creel’s been using the Zello app to figure out where help is needed. It’s like a digital walkie talkie -- if he hears a call come in and he's close by, he grabs his boat and heads that way.

"We talked to him for a few minutes this morning he just brought in another boat load of 10," said father Jim Creel. "Last night, yesterday evening, he was up to over 200."

We talked with James over the phone briefly while he was at a fire rescue station in Orange County, Texas. He told us his work is far from over.

"There's a lot of panic going on right now due to the fact the storm has passed, but just the massive amount of water it's dumped to the north," Creel said. "Toledo Bend and up north along the Sabine River, all that water is now moving to the south, and a lot of these people are thinking that they are safe and that, you know, the storm has passed the water is going to start going down, but actually they are opening more flood gates."

Because of the risk of more flooding, Creel said he doesn't plan to leave anytime soon. He's there with a friend from Louisiana, and the two continue to collaborate with fire officials and other volunteers to keep helping affected residents.

"He says, 'Mom this is unstoppable.' I'm going to go until ... we're just going to go," Debbie said.