HFD activates new water rescue team for extreme flooding

HOUSTON — On Wednesday, the Houston Fire Department activated its newest water rescue team, the Water Strike Team.

The team members have advanced life-saving training in swift water rescue and operate four high water trucks – one in each quadrant of the city.

HFD fleet includes a total of nine high water rescue vehicles, along with 20 evacuation boats, 11 rescue boats, 3 Achilles boats, nine Wave Runners, 25 lifted trucks to haul trailers and two drones.

A large chunk of these vehicles are thanks to $2 million approved by City Council in February 2018. Council members had already approved $300,000 to train firefighters on the new equipment.

The Water Strike Team will use drones to help with search and rescue. They’re also putting two rescue swimmers onboard a police helicopter.

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