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‘Controlled chaos’ | First responders from the Houston area assisting in damage assessments in Central Texas flooding
It’s estimated more than 1,500 people are responding to the flooding in Central Texas.
KERRVILLE, Texas — First responders from around the country are on the ground in Central Texas.
Search and rescue operations, damage assessments, all happening in a large area impacted by flooding.
Firefighters are working around the clock doing different tasks. Some crews are expecting to be in the Hill Country for weeks.
They are getting assignments from the state while also helping the local first responders in affected areas including Kerr, Travis, Williamson, and Burnet Counties.
Following the Hill Country floods, there’s nonstop work in this search and rescue operation.
“When you look at the areas that were hardest hit like Kerr County, really the recovery effort is going to be tremendous,” Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams spoke to KHOU 11 over the phone this weekend.
Him and his crews are in Travis and Williamson counties which also experienced flooding this weekend.
“This is opportunity to give back to everyone that came and supported us when we’ve had wildfires or when we’ve had hurricanes,” Williams said.
Other teams called include the Texas National Guard, going through the wreckage at Camp Mystic. On Sunday, the agency says it has rescued over 500 people.
Local first responders also include the Galveston Fire Department, which has a crew assessing damage in Williamson County.
“It’s a very controlled chaos, but they’re actually doing a good job up there as far as the assessment goes and assisting with other local responders,” Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela, Jr. told KHOU.
It’s difficult job for firefighters and national guardsmen. They are focused—but Williams says they are feeling pain for fellow Texans.
“When you think about it as a parent it’s devastating. And there are some families that are changed forever, oh and its changed some first responders, I guarantee you it is,” Williams said.
The Texas Department of Emergency Management says in a statement that over 1,500 personnel and more than 925 vehicles and equipment are responding to the flooding disaster.