The El Paso Fire Department Water Rescue Team continues helping search for persons missing after the devastating flooding that has killed more than 100 people in central Texas, officials said.
The specially-trained members of the EPFD Water Rescue Team have been deployed since Friday, July 4. The team is currently working in Burnet County with agencies from across Texas searching for persons missing after the flash floods, the city of El Paso said in a news release on Monday, July 7.
Burnet County is located northwest of Austin.
“Our personnel are not assigned to fixed shifts, which means they remain mission-ready around the clock,” EPFD Water Rescue Coordinator and Battalion Chief Kris Menendez said in a statement. “The team’s commitment, resilience, and hope are unwavering — we’re here to help our fellow Texans, no matter the challenge.”
The El Paso team, as part of Texas Task Force 1, has assisted in rescue efforts in areas of Marble Falls and Burnet, the city said.
The El Paso team, which is based in Llano, is currently set for a operations in central Texas through July 15, but additional water rescue personnel can be mobilized if needed, the city stated.
El Paso Water Rescue Team assists in Texas flooding search, rescue efforts
EPFD Water Rescue Team members helped in swift-water rescues of two people clinging to trees after their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters in Marble Falls, city officials said.
The team also assisted in emergency evacuations of victims from a flooded RV park. Teams members helped about 35 to 40 people and pets get to safety, the city of El Paso stated. Some residents were rescued off the rooftops of RVs by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.
The EPFD Water Rescue Team trains year-round and is regularly utilized in water rescues and body recoveries in the fast-moving canals next to the border alongside Rio Grande.
The team also assists in regional rescue emergencies, including recently during flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Fire Department Water Rescue Team continues to help in Texas floods
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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