PORT NECHES — The hard work and long hours put in by Port Neches city employees during Tropical Storm Harvey isn’t lost on city council members.

So, to honor the employees who made water rescues, gave up a holiday to help the city recover and made sure the city kept running, councilmembers provided them with lunch on Friday.

“We got Harvey’d,” councilmember Robert Arnold, who spearheaded the luncheon, said while flipping burgers outside the old Port Neches fire station where the event was held.

Those three little words summed up what the area went through when Tropical Storm Harvey dumped an unprecedented amount of rain in late August.

“I got to talking one day about the need to do something special, something different for the employees like maybe making a meal,” Arnold said. “Those people really went above ad beyond.”

The lunch spread was not paid for with city coffers, he pointed out, but by councilmembers themselves who cooked and served the food.

Water and sewer department employees Daniel Dowd, Brian Klutts and Burch Warner were among the dozens of employees who made their way through the chow line — all three expressed gratitude for the meal and the idea that council thought to recognize them and others.

Dowd and Warner took part in water rescues in the Saba Lane area of the city, which saw the most damage.

“We went door to door looking for anyone wanting to seek shelter,” Dowd said, adding that he had a flat bed trailer and Warner had a truck.

They rescued people throughout the night until about 5 a.m. the next morning then all went back to their regular duties.

Councilmembers Adam Anders and John Davenport said they were proud to be able to be part of the event.

“We appreciate all of the hard work every city employee did during Harvey and the flooding,” Anders said. “We’re proud to have this day to honor them for helping their fellow man, the community and the city of Port Neches.”