JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seven firefighters with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue are back in Jacksonville after deploying to Texas to support communities impacted by catastrophic flooding in the state.
The members of the Urban Search and Rescue Team left for San Antonio July 16 alongside Florida Task Force 5. They made up a specialized Type 3 swiftwater rescue team trained to go into fast-moving waters and bring people, pets and other animals to safety. The team worked with the U.S. Coast Guard and Border Patrol along the Rio Grande River.
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“We did a lot of pre-area recognition for areas we may be working along the Rio Grande, the Freeman area where we were dispatched to,” said JFRD Captain Chris Lewis.
Governor Greg Abbott said three people died after rivers in the San Antonio area and Hill Country — including the Guadalupe, Medina, Nueces and Frio — surged after relentless rain, forcing rescues from cars, trees and rooftops. Hundreds of homes were also damaged.
“Whether it was flood waters, swiftwater, humanitarian, Task Force 5 brings a compliment of urban search and rescue and swift water response,” said JFRD firefighter Maxwell Ervanian. “Any type of emergency that Texas District Emergency Management needed to respond to, we were equipped and able to respond to.”
Now, after being on-call 24/7, the members of the Urban Search and Rescue Team say they’re ready to rest and spend time with their families.
“We love going on these deployments to help people but I got three beautiful daughters I am ready to see,” Captain Lewis said. “It’s always a great feeling when we do come home.”