NEW CANEY, Texas — School bus staff from New Caney Independent School District (ISD) evacuated more than 1,000 adults and children, along with their pets, during Hurricane Harvey last week.

New Caney ISD, located about 30 miles north of Houston, was among the school bus operations that pitched in to help people in need when the storm battered southeastern Texas.

Josh Rice, director of transportation and fleet services for New Caney ISD, said that many of the evacuees whom his team transported had physical disabilities and were in wheelchairs. That included residents of a local nursing home.

“With a shortage of wheelchair buses, we were transferring people from their wheelchair to a bus seat in order to get them out of flooded areas,” Rice said.

New Caney ISD also assisted in evacuations in nearby Humble when Humble ISD buses couldn’t access much of the northern part of their district.

New Caney ISD had about 15 school buses taking part in evacuations during the peak period. Rice said that while the drivers were paid for their time, “they were more than willing to help.”