Western Carolina fishing club heads to Texas to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery

The Western Carolina University Bass Fishing Club has boats and is willing to travel.

The club headed to Texas on Wednesday with its boats and supplies to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery – a 15-hour drive with four boats in tow.

Members of the club posted a video on Facebook Wednesday, saying they had just crossed the Louisiana border and were listening to radio calls for rescue.

“There are thousands of people trapped, with water rising up to 5 feet an hour,” the post read. “These calls are nonstop, every two-three seconds there is a new call.”

The club set up a GoFundMe page on Tuesday to raise money for supplies and travel to the areas in need. Members decided to go after hearing the call for people with boats to assist in water rescues.

“Everyone has heard about the devastating effects of the excess rainwater in parts of Texas,” member Zach Tallent wrote on the GoFundMe page. “The Bass Fishing Club at WCU will be sending several members, boats in tow, to Houston to assist in any way possible.

“It is our duty as Americans to help our fellow countrymen, especially those in need. We are all college students, so we ask for any assistance possible related to our travel to and from Texas. Any and every donation is supported and encouraged. We will be leaving (Tuesday) at midnight to embark on our journey. Thank you all so much. Any donations not directly used for travel or relief will be donated to a legitimate relief agency currently providing aid.”

The club had raised $4,245 of its $3,000 goal in a day and was headed down with first aid kits, tanks of gas, life vests, batteries, chargers, hygiene items, dry clothes, Bibles, water and more.

To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/basscats-travel-expenses.

This story was originally published August 30, 2017 at 2:51 PM with the headline "Western Carolina fishing club heads to Texas to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery."