did you reach out to cajun navy?ure did. >> reporter: daishi crespo runs the local christian ministry here in katy, the group helping several hundred families, many of whom haven't even recovered from hurricane harvey. >> it's a disaster on top of a disaster. when we have families that are struggling financially, trying to find a way how they can become resilient, and they experience something like this? it's like another setback. >> you seem like a hopeful person. >> we have to. >> how? >> we have to. >> you don't have another choice? >> we have to. we have to have hope. >> reporter: and that determination to stand together in the face of this challenge, or any that follow, is lifting up communities across texas. the distribution lines packed with volunteers handing out water they needed themselves. the unopened restaurants giving away meals in the parking lot. >> we still haven't started on the garage. we've still been in the living room. >> reporter: even briana bolden, who was willing to rebuild her grandmother's

the so-called cajun navy is set to help people in need across texas. it's a volunteer group of private boat owners who have responded during hurricanes. state officials have asked the group's help during the power crisis. >>> breaking overnight new evidence that the toll the coronavirus pandemic is taking. the cdc is reporting a staggering drop in u.s. life expectancy. meanwhile, a new variant of the virus has reportedly been found. abc's alex presha joins us with the latest from washington now. alex, good morning. >> reporter: hey, kenneth, good morning to you. the race to vaccinate is now th at w over the next four weeks, but with that said, we are on pace to have upwards of 559,000 lives lost by march 13th. this morning, new data showing just how deadly this virus has been. the cdc reporting u.s. life expectancy dropped in the first half of 2020 shaving off at least one year of life. it's the biggest decrease since world war ii. >> that doesn't sound like a whole lot. the population level, this is a huge decline. >> reporter: for minorities the toll