Firefighters reach Houston Fire Department Engine 21 submerged under water in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.[/caption]
Updated Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m.
Four additional Lake Travis firefighters will be deploying tonight for a minimum of one week to San Marcos, said Braden Frame, vice-president of the Lake Travis Firefighters Association.
"Lieutenant David Clark, Lieutenant Travis McAnally, Engineer Jason Lee, and Firefighter Ryan Dowling are headed to San Marcos with the Rigid Inflatable Boat to assist with swift and still water rescue/recovery," he said. "This team is specially trained in RIB water operations, technical rope rescue, and advance level medical care. The deployment will last a minimum of one week, but is forecasted to be extended longer."
With the deployment of an additional four firefighters, the Lake Travis department has a total of 8 members serving across Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey, or almost 10 percent of its operational force, Frame said.
"This puts an additional strain on members back filling their positions here to ensure the best service to our residents," he said. "And we could not be more grateful to our community for their support."
Posted Aug. 28 at 12:39 p.m.
Lake Travis area firefighters are assisting a mutual aid group in the Houston area.
This map depicts national, state and local resources assisting residents in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.[/caption]
Lake Travis Firefighters Lieutenant Ted Harris, Lieutenant Jeff Dudik, Lieutenant Adam Griggs and Firefighter Tristan Monks arrived outside of Houston today to join the Texas Intrastate fire Mutual Aid System Houston Task Force, said Braden Frame, vice-president of the Lake Travis Firefighters Association. This mutual aid group combines 10 fire engines and a total of 43 firefighters to assist in the Houston Metro area, where flooding damage from flooding is considered some of the area's worst.
"The [local] task force was deployed once this morning and recalled as that area flooded much worse than expected and the area was impassable, even for the fire department," Frame said. "They’re now headed to the Webster area of South Houston."
In total, 317 personnel from across the state have been mobilized so far with 9 out of state technical rescue and incident management teams on the way,