Austin emergency responders heading to South Texas amid tropical storm threat
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department has deployed 10 crew members to parts of Texas that are expected to be hit by what could become Tropical Storm Alberto, according to AFD. Texas Search and Rescue (TXSAR) crews from the Austin area are also gearing up to be called to the region.
Tropical Storm Warnings stretch from roughly Galveston down to the Mexico/U.S. border. Several inches of rain are expected for most of the southern third of Texas with flooding expected.
Here's some of what those Central Texas teams could be doing:
Austin Fire Department
AFD said 10 special operations personnel deployed Monday. Those personnel range from captain to firefighter.
"Six of the 10 are boat team members trained in swift water and general water rescue, one is a helicopter search and rescue specialist and three are structural collapse and hazmat concern rescue specialists," an AFD spokesperson said.
That team will also bring a Zodiac boat (which looks like a raft) and rescue gear including life jackets, swift water gear and a rescue boat.
"The AFD personnel are currently preparing for the storm by conducting training on the equipment, rescue techniques and familiarizing themselves with the geographical layout of the area," AFD said.
Texas Search and Rescue
Texas Search and Rescue is also positioning itself and preparing for the storm. Andrew Tull, volunteer and chairman of the board at TXSAR, says they have boats, specialized vehicles, life jackets and other swift water rescue gear ready to go too.
"This current event seems to be localized coming in from the Gulf and extending into Central Texas. Mother Nature is going to do her own thing as she sees fit, but we're prepared with assets in the Gulf Coast, in South Texas and in Central Texas," Tull said.
TXSAR is called out by local, state or federal agencies when crews are overwhelmed and need additional resources.
"Everybody that is certified and trained in that particular discipline, let's say that it's a flood event, will get an immediate text, phone call and email that says, 'here is the mission, here's the location, here's what you need to be prepared for,'" Tull said.
He urged Texans to be prepared themselves by having a plan, being ready to execute that plan quickly and staying alert.
Texas response
Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to bump efforts to a Stage 2 readiness level Tuesday.
Below is a list of Texas teams set up to respond, according to the governor's office:
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
- Texas A&M Forest Service
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Texas Department of Transportation
- Texas Department of State Health Services
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Texas Animal Health Commission
- Texas Department of Agriculture
- Public Utility Commission of Texas
- Railroad Commission of Texas
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Texas National Guard
- Texas Education Agency
- Texas Department of Information Resources
- Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
- American Red Cross
- Salvation Army
- Texas A&M Forest Service: 4 Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System Strike Teams comprised of 100 personnel and 24 vehicles
- Texas National Guard: 3 Ground Transportation Platoons comprised of more than 40 personnel and 20 vehicles; CH47 Chinook helicopters
"To ensure assistance and resources are quickly deployed, I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to increase the readiness level of the State Emergency Operations Center. Texans in at-risk areas are urged to remain vigilant, monitor weather conditions, and take necessary precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe," Abbott said.