Houston, Montgomery Firefighters Aid Flood-Stricken Kerr County Texas

Kerr County, Texas, is grappling with catastrophic flooding caused by the Guadalupe River swelling more than 20 feet in just an hour, leading to fatalities and extensive property damage, including homes swept away near riverbanks. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with dozens of swift water rescues completed and emergency services working to locate missing residents, including children from Camp Mystic, where access and communication remain severely hampered. The Houston Fire Department has dispatched an engine and four members from its Tactical Deployment Unit, alongside three firefighters joining Texas A&M Task Force One, to support local first responders in these efforts. Houston officials, including Mayor John Whitmire and Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz, have expressed solidarity and emphasized the mutual aid tradition in Texas during disasters, while local leaders like Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring have called for prayers and thanked emergency workers. The scale and suddenness of the flooding caught many off guard, as noted by Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, highlighting the unpredictable nature of this natural disaster. Emergency teams, including Texas Game Wardens, continue their search and rescue operations amid ongoing challenges caused by the flooding.