20 Years, 20 Stories – Justen Noakes: Trained in a World of If/Then
Justen Noakes’ career that kept him primarily behind a computer where he blended his education in social science and industrial engineering had him often asking if/then questions related to emergency management. If such and such happens, then this is the response. Over and over the scenarios are examined. A firm believer in continual learning and training, he attended an emergency management course in Houston and learned about TEXSAR from Greg Pyles, CEO of TEXSAR at that time.. The timing was perfect. “I had spent so much time developing plans based on a myriad of if/then scenarios, but I wanted to see plans in action.”
Justen quickly fell in love with the TEXSAR concept of “Texans helping Texans” and the people who lived out that motto. He joined TEXSAR in 2013 when TEXSAR served primarily in the Austin area; the roller coaster ride began.
“I became CEO of TEXSAR in 2014,” Justen said, “and in 2015 we deployed for the tragic Memorial Day Wimberley Floods. In 2016, we were part of the search for Zuzu Verk in far west Texas. Of course, we had many other missions, but those two had a lot of publicity and impact. Missions like those are never forgotten.”
Both of the missions he recalls so vividly affirm the importance of training for all possible scenarios and running if/then scenarios mentally, too. He explains how a lot is needed physically, but also mentally. “There is an old adage in the search-and-rescue world. ‘The body won’t go where the mind hasn’t been.’ I believe that to be true. I know that to be true.”
“The Memorial Day Floods were taxing, physically and mentally. A TEXSAR team was resting in the fire station on Bolivar after completing a long day’s work for a major public event there. It was around midnight when we got the call to respond to the flooding. Six hours later, we arrived in Martindale. We saved dozens of people there. The mission was inspiring and served as a reality check. All those things we had been trained for, that we were told could theoretically happen, actually happened,” he said.
While Justen believes that there is a place in TEXSAR for anyone who wants to serve, he suggests personal reality checks. “We can use whatever talent someone has, but some areas are quite demanding. Someone should approach humbly a desire to participate in swiftwater rescue. It is a young person’s field. I enjoyed my time doing swiftwater work, but now I am happy to provide shore support to others in those missions,” he said with a smile.
Because of his educational and career background that led him to emergency management roles, he sees the realm of disaster response through various lenses. “In emergencies and in disasters, you are dealing with human beings responding in raw form as they try to deal with unknown situations. One of the challenges is preparation of skills and mindset, personally and as teams, and another is dealing with those who are unprepared…the victims, the stranded and the scared.” He muses that the work can far exceed personal expectations if allowed to. “TEXSAR is really for those who want to give back without any recognition.”
Justen recognizes that he has had a special journey that blended knowledge, experiences and influences to reach his role of service. He acknowledges that he has had an interesting path driven by the call to serve and higher influences. “God definitely had a play in the path I followed. No greater gift than to give of yourself, right?”
Learn more about TEXSAR at www.TEXSAR.org.
TEXSAR: 20 Years, 20 Stories, is a series of people-centric stories that celebrate the history of TEXSAR’s heroics and humanity as its volunteers continue their mission of ‘Texans helping Texans’ with Service above Self. The sequence of stories and profiles will come together in 2024 and 2025, celebrating the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary. To read more, click here.
