East Texas firefighters deployed to help central Texas flood victims

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – As officials continue to try and help survivors of catastrophic flooding, several East Texas firefighters from Smith County and Lufkin have been deployed to assist in central Texas.

Severe flooding has been reported in several counties in central Texas this weekend. In Kerr County, the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said 43 people have been found dead from the floods, including 28 adults and 15 children as of 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. In Travis County, KXAN reported that two people have died and 10 others were reported missing on Saturday.

The Lufkin Fire Department deployed Engine 3 to Central Texas with captains Petty and Grace and firefighters Jernigan and Maskunas, as a part of the TIFMAS program. The crew left just before 12 p.m. on Saturday in order to meet with other departments that are gathering together to form a strike team.

On Friday, the Lufkin Fire Department also deployed Driver-Operator Byrum and Firefighter Barnes as a part of the Emergency Medical Task Force that’s assisting residents of central Texas.

Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said a member of their district was deployed to Llano on Friday to assist in search and rescue operations there. The district member was activated by the Texas State Operations Center as a part of the Texas A&M Task Force 2.

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