The State Operations (SOC) Center activated the Texas A&M Task Force among the many emergency responders going in to help the Hill Country Communities.
Devine’s Patrick DuBose and Castroville’s Clint Cooke are both members of this Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) Urban Search and Rescue team in Kerrville helping with the search and rescue efforts after the devastating July 4 floods that sweep through children’s camps and rv parks and homes during the middle of the night.
The death toll as of July 7 was over a 100 already, as the Guadalupe River rose over 27.5 feet in less than 45 minutes in the dark of night.
Daily updates are provided for family members of the Task Force members from Merribeth Kahlich, Public Information Officer on the teams’ involvement with the ongoing search and rescue efforts in The Hill Country and other areas affected by the 4th of July Floods.
“Our water squads and HSART have been engaged in assisting local officials since early morning. TX-TF1 and TX-TF2 Type 3 Teams are now in place in The Hill Country and will receive missions. We are proud of the over 150 personnel we have in place to assist local officials and the residents of our State. Please join us in sending prayers and supportive thoughts to all that are in the affected areas. Many have suffered great loss today. All our teams have secured lodging for the night and will be up early and ready to assist. We are holding them close in our thoughts tonight and the days ahead, “ said Kahlich.
There has been an abundance of information, photos and updates about the damage and loss of life in the affected areas across all types of media showing the devastation.
“Our teams have been very engaged and assigned to a mission since their arrival,” said Kahlich. “Our water squads (some 75 folks) are true “road warriors” in this event as they have relentlessly followed the water since this began. Our HSART members have been our “heroes in the sky” and have been right where they could do the most good for the most people on several occasions! We are proud of all our members and the way they each embrace their specific jobs and perform well as a team,” said Kahlich.
To give you some idea of the scope of this deployment, currently we have the following involved:
Texas A&M Task Force 1(TX-TF1)- A Type 3 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) team with water capabilities
Texas Task Force 2 (TX-TF2)- A Type 3 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) team with water capabilities
TX-TF1-9 Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Teams with inflatable rescue boats
TX-TF1- Helicopter Search and Rescue Technicians (HSART), rescue swimmers who will partner with Texas Military Department (TMD) and US Coast Guard (USCG) aircraft
12-Search Canines
27-boats in use between all teams
TF members represent some 50 Participating Agencies
Over 245 personnel deployed
Plus an additional Type 3 US&R team joined them on Monday.
The team has continued to be engaged in mission assignments throughout the area of operations, which consists of some 6 counties: San Saba, Kerr, McCulloch, Kendall, Lampasas and Burnet. In addition to our team, USAR Resources continue to be requested via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). Swift Water Boat Rescue Squads from Florida, Virginia, Louisiana and Oklahoma and a Canine Mission Ready Package (MRP) from Tennessee are in our state to enhance our capabilities. Resources assigned to this incident continue to move and reposition to support the many requests for assistance.
“Our task force is blessed with a wonderful Chaplain Corps as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a group of certified peer support counselors. Today a First Responder Assistance Center (FRAC) was made available to our members. The FRAC is here to serve responders who would like some support or to talk to someone. The center’s practitioners are trained in psychological first aid, and trauma informed care. We take the mental health of our members very seriously and we hope, if needed, they take advantage of this resource,’ she said.
“THANK YOU to all the members who have been out and working the past three days and a special THANK YOU to all of you who are holding down operations at your homes, stations and jobs. Join us as we keep our fellow Texans in our thoughts and prayers over the coming days,” she said.
Texas Task Force deploys 245 personnel and 12 canines in search and rescue ops after catasrophic flooding
