The Memphis Fire Department’s (MFD) Canine Search Team – Human Remains Detection (CST-HRD) was deployed to Kerr County, Texas on Monday to assist with search and rescue operations following one of the deadliest floods in the Lone Star State’s history.
On the morning of Friday, July 4, Central Texas was saturated with rain, causing flash floods in Texas Hill Country that have since killed more than 100 people, including over two dozen at a Christian summer camp for girls along the Guadalupe River, which surged more than 26 feet in under an hour.
Many remain missing in the area.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) coordinated MFD’s Canine Search Team’s deployment to Texas through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), which is a national interstate mutual aid agreement that enables states to share resources during times of disaster.
MFD’s CST-HRD team consisting of 12 highly trained personnel, along with four TN-TF1 vehicles, two UTVs, and specialized search dogs, will assist with operations in Texas for 14 days.
“We are incredibly proud of our Memphis Fire Department team for answering the call to support recovery efforts in Texas following the devastating floods,” MFD wrote in a Facebook post. “Their expertise, courage, and compassion embody the very best of who we are.”
“We stand with Texas during this difficult time—and we stand behind our team as they represent Memphis with strength, skill, and heart,” the post added.
TEMA said MFD’s deployment to Texas “displays Tennessee’s deep commitment to the spirit of the Volunteer State” and the state’s “ongoing readiness to assist other states in times of crisis through EMAC.”
“Each deployment strengthens our capabilities and ensures Tennessee remains prepared to respond wherever it’s needed the most,” TEMA added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Special Response Team” by Memphis Fire Department and photo “On the Scene” by Tennessee Special Response Team A.
