Fire crews and trained search dogs from the Bay Area have been deployed to Texas to assist in ongoing rescue efforts as catastrophic flooding continues across the state.
As of Wednesday, more than 160 people were missing and at least 100 have died, according to the Associated Press.
A specialized “canine mission ready package” team — made up of five personnel and two search-and-rescue dogs — left the Bay Area on Tuesday night, said Menlo Park Fire Marshal Gage Schlice, speaking on behalf of the crew.
The unit includes firefighters from the Menlo Park and Mountain View fire departments, along with two “highly trained” civilian specialists. The dogs, Rory and Tula, are certified to locate people in disaster zones.
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The team, part of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 based in Menlo Park, landed in Austin early Wednesday and drove about 90 minutes to their base of operations, Schlice said.
It remains unclear where exactly they will focus their efforts, as flash floods have impacted a wide swath of central Texas. Their deployment came at the request of Texas officials, who specifically asked for CA-TF3 among the California teams sent.
“We are always here to help,” said Schlice. “Our force is diverse and ready to respond at a moment’s notice — anywhere in the world if requested.”
The unit is self-sufficient, with a Menlo Park battalion chief serving as team manager, a logistics specialist handling food, water, and transportation, and additional support personnel, Schlice said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized the deployment of multiple California urban search-and-rescue teams earlier this week. Crews from Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange counties have also been sent to support operations.
Among those missing in Texas is a Bay Area family of three from Marin County — Mark Walker, 51, his wife, Sara, and their 14-year-old son, Johnny — whose vacation home along the Guadalupe River was swept away by floodwaters. Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Walker, Mark’s brother, flew to Texas over the weekend with friends and relatives to aid in the search.
Schlice noted that while the Menlo Park Fire District previously responded to wildfires like the Pacific Palisades blaze, one of several fires that devastated Southern California earlier this year, this mission presents different challenges.
“The fire in Los Angeles was a wind-driven event,” he said. “This is a large-scale climactic disaster — it’s going to be very different.”
Still, Schlice said the team is fully prepared with boats and a wide range of rescue equipment.
“We have experienced people trained in multiple specialties,” he said. “We’re always ready to respond to anything. I can’t wait to see the impact they’ve made when they return — especially with the canines.”