In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Imelda, which affected several Southeast Texas counties with high winds and flooding, nearly 1,500 square bales of hay were airdropped by Chinook helicopters to 4,516 stranded head of cattle in Chambers and Jefferson counties.

While the airdrops have ended, additional hay distribution is continuing via boats and “high-profile” military and emergency response vehicles, said Dr. Monty Dozier, AgriLife Extension director for the agency’s Disaster Assessment and Recovery Team. So far, an additional 485 square bales and 10 round bales have been delivered to stranded cattle using those methods.

Employees of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Cooperative Extension Program of Prairie View A&M University helped solicit the local hay donations for the aerial hay drops.

“Tropical Storm Imelda brought more rain and flooding to some coastal areas of Southeast Texas than Hurricane Harvey,” said  Dozier. “This brought additional challenges to providing assistance, but our professionals were able to overcome those challenges to assist farmers, ranchers and others in the affected area."

AgriLife Extension personnel assisted with collecting hay bales at established animal shelters in Chambers and Jefferson counties, while also ensuring those bales were transported to the Chinook helicopters for distribution. Dozier said the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas Department of Agriculture, the military and Texas A&M Task Force One, also assisted.

Animal Sheltering

Additional agency help was provided through animal rescue and sheltering operations in collaboration with the Texas A&M University Veterinary Emergency Team. Animal shelters were established at White’s Park in Chambers County and Ford Park in Jefferson County.

“Working in concert with the TAMU VET in housing and care of animals, we provided food, shelter and medical assistance to 23 horses, 13 cattle, 14 dogs and two cats in Chambers County,  and to nine horses and eight goats in Jefferson County,” Dozier said.

According to the VET, it has treated more than 300 animals in Chambers County, most of which were pets separated from their owners during the severe flooding, and the team is planning to treat even more while in the county.

“The last several deployments with our county Extension agents strike teams have been in concert with the VET,” Dozier said. “We work as a team in sheltering operations, which have  been a real benefit due to our respective expertise and abilities and for the management of volunteers.”

Surveying/Assessing Damage

Support through surveying storm damage was also provided by the agencies to the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Orange and Jasper counties. 

“In Orange County, we had a team of four AgriLife Extension agents and one Cooperative Extension agent from Prairie View A&M spend two days surveying tropical storm-related damage to support preparation of the Orange County Disaster Summary Outline,” Dozier said. “We also had a team of seven AgriLife Extension agents complete surveying in Jasper County for tropical storm-related damage to support preparation of their online disaster summary.”

Damage assessment reporting has also begun in Jefferson County and will soon begin in Newton County, he added.

“Preliminary damage assessments are required for FEMA to help ensure counties are eligible for federal funds in the event of a presidential emergency declaration,” he noted.

State Operations

Dozier also cited Rachel Bauer as the lead AgriLife Extension liaison to the Texas State Operations Center in Austin, supported by Dr. Andy Vestal, and Dr. Joe Mask, during Tropical Storm Imelda.

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