Rescue and recovery personnel from 13 states are assisting Texas with recovery efforts in the aftermath of a deadly July 4 flash flood event that killed at least 119, with at least 173 reported missing.
Both Republican and Democratic governors have sent help to Texas from the states of Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said his wife and family members were rescued in Hunt, Texas, where they were vacationing with close family friends and were stranded as flood waters rose, NBC News reported. Not soon after, he deployed two Virginia Type III Swift Water Rescue Teams to assist with ongoing recovery efforts.
States are providing relief through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) responding to a request from the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). TDEM is overseeing recovery efforts in six counties with the majority of personnel in Kerr County, where the majority of people were killed and reported missing.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders deployed 22 Arkansas National Guard troops to Texas; an Arkansas Division of Emergency Management team deployed Friday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also deployed 27 highly skilled Urban Search and Rescue Team members, including nine from Riverside City and Oakland City and 18 from the Los Angeles County, Riverside City, Menlo Park and Orange County Fire Departments. Among them are four Human Remains Detection team units, including eight canines.
“The scale of loss and devastation Texas is experiencing right now is unfathomable. California is proud to lend a helping hand to our fellow Americans,” Newsom said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was among the first to deploy swift water rescue teams and K-9 units to assist with search and recovery efforts in Kerr County.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry dispatched 14 swift water rescue personnel to Texas, including boat operators, technicians, support personnel and fire marshals.
“Louisiana is committed to helping our neighbors in Texas during this difficult time,” Landry said.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen deployed members of its Task Force 1 and Type 3 Urban Search and Rescue Task Force to Texas.
“Nebraskans always step up to help those in need. These families and communities need our support and continued prayers as recovery efforts go on,” Pillen said.
New Jersey deployed members of its Task Force 1, one of 28 federal FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams in the country. A New Jersey native also led a U.S. Coast Guard crew to rescue a record 165 people in Kerr County, The Center Square reported.
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong deployed a seven-person crew from the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Wing.
It’s the first time the 119th Wing “has provided MQ-9 support for an EMAC request,” the governor’s office said. “Other states have come to our aid in extremely challenging times, and North Dakota stands ready to help Texas through this catastrophe however we can,” Armstrong said.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also deployed 20 Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and an Ohio Department of Natural Resources team with K-9s.
“When we put the request out to our troopers, we had the complete roster filled up within two hours,” Major David Brown said.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt deployed two Type III swift water rescue teams including Task Force 1 members from Tulsa and Oklahoma City, state emergency management personnel and boats, trailers, and equipment.
“As always, Oklahoma will answer the call to help our friends and neighbors during these devastating floods. That’s the Oklahoma Standard, plain and simple,” Stitt said.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster deployed the state’s Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team, including five personnel and two human remains detection K-9s.
“In some of our toughest moments, the people of Texas were there for us. Now, it’s our duty to return that support and stand by our friends in their time of need,” McMaster said.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee dispatched a Memphis Fire CST-HRD team of expert handlers and specialized search dogs.
“Tennessee stands with Texas – we always have and always will. Proud of our first responders who are in Kerr County,” Lee said.
Wisconsin’s Task Force 1 were deployed to Texas, including Regional All-Climate Training Center employees, K-9 units, and Janesville, Menomonie, and Green Bay fire department crew.
Eight WI-TF1 members began search efforts with their K9s on Thursday northwest of Austin, the Wisconsin Emergency Management said. Its Canine Human Remains Detection Mission Ready team, including “three very important K9s (Duke, Merlin, and Reaper)” are performing “extremely difficult and heartbreaking work, but it plays a crucial role in bringing closure to families.”
