Airboats are easier to launch into the water in flood when compared with other watercraft. Airboats become especially effective in urban flood scenarios.

New Orleans, La., August 30, 2005 -- Aerial view of flood waters covering a roadway in New Orleans where people are launching rescue boats. New Orleans is being evacuated as a result of floods caused by hurricane Katrina. Photo by Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA

September 7 2006

Recipients of "Hero of the Year" Awards from the National Association of Letter Carriers are shown with NALC President William H. Young, 3rd from right, and Deputy Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, 4th from right, after receiving certificates in a Washington, DC ceremony September 7, 2006. Pictured, l-r, are National Humanitarian Lane Anderson of Santa Barbara, CA; Bernadine Morris of New Orleans, LA, wife of Central Region Hero Leonard Morris, who was unable to attend; Carrier Alert Award winner Samuel Dickson of Brownsville, IN; Eastern Region Hero Terry Hampton of Macon, GA; Donahoe; Young; Western Region Hero Luis Espinosa of Dayton, TX, and National Hero of the Year James Osborne of Port St. Lucie, FL. (Photo by Michael Shea/NALC)

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Doug Bienvenu and Drue LeBlanc spent three days in the murky city waters. Doug Bienvenu's efforts began long before Hurricane Katrina slammed the US coast.

Bienvenu says he called three fire departments in New Orleans, the city and state police, Coast Guard and Wildlife and Fisheries and left his name to say he had many boats on stand-by.

Days passed and no phone call came from any of the agencies. All it took was one clip from CNN and Bienvenu and his fiance', Drue LeBlanc, were on their way with an airboat in tow.

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