By rssfeeds-admin In response, several groups were mobilized and sent to central Texas, including eight Longview Fire Department officers who also serve on the Texas A&M Task Force 1.
“They’re trained to handle situations like this,” Longview Fire Marshal Kevin May said. “Swift water maneuver, the boats, they’re trained in how to get into the water, the rushing water, and rescue somebody and do it safely. ”
Two team members left for the area on July 2, while others joined them later. East Texas non-profits also jumped into action, collecting donations and heading to central Texas.
“Seeing the aftereffects, seeing that in person, it takes it to a whole other level,” founder of J-Star Ministries Patrick Johnson said. “There was so much devastation.”
Johnson drove a trailer full of cleaning supplies, snacks and personal hygiene items to a local elementary school in Central Texas.
“When I initially opened it up, the lady stood there with her mouth open, and she went, Oh my God, oh, is all of this stuff for us? I said, yes, of course. And again, we just kind of laughed,” Johnson said.
Texans on Mission also deployed teams ready to serve in the recovery process. They have several types of volunteers preparing to be deployed, like ministers for faith guidance and the flood recovery team to help start tearing out the house water damage.
“Our flood recovery volunteers who will be coming in and doing the dirty work is what I like to say, because they get in there and they get into these homes that have been flooded,” Texans on Mission communications director Aimee Freston said. “They tear out the damp and soaked insulation and drywall flooring, just really clean up those homes.”
Freston said they are preparing for a long deployment based on previous disaster experience.
“We know from past responses and the magnitude of this disaster that this is going to be a long recovery process,” Freston said.
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