Ohio sending resources to help with Texas flooding

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The state of Ohio is sending personnel and resources to Texas to help following the recent deadly and devastating flash flooding.

“First and foremost, we want to extend our hearts and minds to the citizens of Texas; it's a heartbreaking tragedy out there," said Maj. David Brown, who oversees the Office of Field Operations for the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP).

Twenty troopers with the OSHP will be working in Texas, joining the rescue and recovery work. The request for the OSHP's help came late Sunday night, according to Brown. He said their roster was full within two hours of putting the call out to troopers.

“Even though there’s a community in need that isn't in Ohio, it's the culture we have in the highway patrol is to put service above self and go down and help when we see people in need," Brown said.

Brown said the OSHP troopers will likely be helping look around the river basin. He said they also could lend a hand with traffic control and humanitarian aid and will do whatever Texas safety leaders need. 

“I can't state enough how much we feel the pain of the nation that when we watch this unfold on the news every night, that we just want to be able to go and help in whatever capacity that is and we are physically able to do," Brown said.

Many who are not first responders are trying to do their part to lend a hand as well. Jamie Pratt, President of The Ohio State Alumni Association in Austin, has been encouraging others to get involved and sharing information about how to do so.

“Watching it unfold knowing that it is basically like your backyard, your neighbors, your community members, people's family members, it's a horrible feeling," she said. "Find that little bit of humanity and empathy that you can in yourself, your family members, your neighbors and just do anything you can to kind of help people get out of this and come out stronger."

The troopers' plan is to be working in Texas by 6 a.m. Wednesday. Multiple K-9s and their handlers from the Ohio State Department of Natural Resources will also be helping in Texas.

“Our biggest hope is that we can bring calm to chaos and that we can provide closure and hope and hopefully reunification to the families that are impacted the most," Brown said.