Volunteers with the Cajun Navy Relief has returned back to Louisiana after helping hundreds of people during the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. 

The Cajun Navy Relief and Rescue is a non-profit group of volunteers from across the country. The group was created after flooding hit southern Louisiana in 2016.

This group that’s all too familiar with devastating flooding also assisted during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. 

For five days, Cajun Navy Relief volunteers partnered with the local government in North Carolina to assist in three cities. 

They rescued roughly 450 people from the impacts of the storm. That number includes about 40 bedridden people inside Highland Acres Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lumberton. 

It took five hours to rescue the residents and deliver them to area hospitals. Cajun Navy Relief Co-Founder, Damien Callais, said evacuating for some people just was not an option. 

“They don’t have anywhere to go. Don’t have the money to go. A lot of these people who are usually hurt by these storms are those lower-income people that just can’t afford to pick up and go. I understand that,” said Calais. 

Florence, which made landfall as a hurricane, is blamed for at least 24 deaths. About 500,000 homes and businesses are still without power in North and South Carolina. Since the storm continues to cause heavy rains, flash flooding is still a concern over the Carolinas.

The Cajun Navy Relief is sending a second round of volunteers back to North Carolina to help with relief efforts.