LA County Fire K9 Teams Deploy to Texas for Flood Search and Rescue

LA County K9 Teams Mobilize for Texas Floods

• 🐾 LA County Fire K9 teams are preparing for a two-week mission to assist in the flooded areas of Texas Hill Country.
• ✈️ Two dog teams and a team captain will depart from LAX to aid in the search for dozens of people still unaccounted for after being swept away by the floods.

Devastating Flooding in Texas Hill Country

• 💔 The situation in central Texas has become increasingly horrific, with the number of missing persons significantly higher than initially feared.
• 📈 In the Kerr County area alone, 161 people are known to be missing following deadly flash floods that occurred over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
• ⚠️ The death toll is expected to surge as search efforts continue.

Ongoing Search and Rescue Efforts

• 🏞️ Search teams are meticulously scouring the swift banks of the Guadalupe River and surrounding rough terrain, with crews on horseback and helicopters assisting.
• 🔍 Efforts are focused on areas where debris has accumulated, including under bridges, with K9 units sniffing for any signs of missing individuals.
• 🏕️ Many missing individuals may have been camping or RVing near the river and did not check into hotels or official campsites, making identification difficult.

Support for Victims and First Responders

• 🙏 Chaplains with the Billy Graham rapid response team are providing spiritual support to grieving families and individuals.
• 🍲 Mercy Chefs are on the ground preparing thousands of meals daily for both victims and the dedicated first responders involved in the extensive search operations.
• 💔 The discovery of a child's remains in a specific area highlights the tragic scope of the disaster, with efforts continuing to locate the child's parents and another child who was with them.