Oklahoma Task Force One and other rescue teams are deploying to South Texas to assist with emergency efforts as the region faces catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River Basin. Brad Smith, an Oklahoma City fire battalion chief and leader of Task Force One, said his team of six is prepared for the mission. “We are about to deploy a second team to South Texas along the Guadalupe River Basin; they have a flood emergency,” Smith said. Smith highlighted the team’s experience and readiness for the challenging conditions. “We’ve faced this before. We’re very familiar with it; this is a highly trained group of people, very experienced,” he said. The team will bring two inflatable boats to navigate the floodwaters. The Guadalupe River has crested at 36.19 feet, surpassing last year’s levels during what was described as a one-in-a-thousand-year flood. “We could be down there from anywhere from four days to two weeks or more,” Smith said. The flooding has already claimed at least one life and is hitting the same area that experienced catastrophic flooding last year on the Fourth of July, which killed more than 130 people. This time, first responders were ready, including those from Oklahoma. Numerous flash flood emergencies have been issued throughout the day. Oklahoma officials said 12 Task Force One members are already in South Texas, and six more are now deploying to join them. Guymon and Yukon fire departments are also sending swiftwater rescue teams. The crew from Guymon left just after 1 p.m., while the Yukon team will be deployed for at least seven days. Despite the deployments, Oklahoma officials assured that the state still has sufficient resources for local emergencies, such as a recent water rescue in Moore.
Oklahoma Task Force One and other rescue teams are deploying to South Texas to assist with emergency efforts as the region faces catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River Basin.
Brad Smith, an Oklahoma City fire battalion chief and leader of Task Force One, said his team of six is prepared for the mission.
“We are about to deploy a second team to South Texas along the Guadalupe River Basin; they have a flood emergency,” Smith said.
Smith highlighted the team’s experience and readiness for the challenging conditions.
“We’ve faced this before. We’re very familiar with it; this is a highly trained group of people, very experienced,” he said.
The team will bring two inflatable boats to navigate the floodwaters. The Guadalupe River has crested at 36.19 feet, surpassing last year’s levels during what was described as a one-in-a-thousand-year flood.
“We could be down there from anywhere from four days to two weeks or more,” Smith said.
The flooding has already claimed at least one life and is hitting the same area that experienced catastrophic flooding last year on the Fourth of July, which killed more than 130 people.
This time, first responders were ready, including those from Oklahoma.
Numerous flash flood emergencies have been issued throughout the day. Oklahoma officials said 12 Task Force One members are already in South Texas, and six more are now deploying to join them.
Guymon and Yukon fire departments are also sending swiftwater rescue teams. The crew from Guymon left just after 1 p.m., while the Yukon team will be deployed for at least seven days.
Despite the deployments, Oklahoma officials assured that the state still has sufficient resources for local emergencies, such as a recent water rescue in Moore.