TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As floodwaters surge through Texas Hill Country, a swiftwater rescue team from Tallahassee is heading west to help.
The City of Tallahassee Fire Department said FL-TF7 has been activated to deploy its Type 3 Swiftwater Team in support of response efforts in Texas. The department said teams from across Florida are also deploying to assist.
Texas Hill Country is facing what the National Weather Service described as extremely dangerous flood conditions, warning that a “large and deadly flood wave” is surging down the Guadalupe River. The area is the same region devastated by flooding a year ago that killed more than 130 people, including 25 young girls at Camp Mystic.
Up to 20 inches of rain has soaked the ground in some areas, leading to dozens of water rescues. The region is under a flash flood emergency, the highest level of flood warning.
Gov. Greg Abbott said at least one person has died due to the flooding.