Gov. Kay Ivey sends search and rescue crews to flood-ravaged Texas

FILE – Gov. Kay Ivey – Photo from the Office of Gov. Kay Ivey

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Gov. Kay Ivey is deploying Swiftwater teams to Texas to help respond to deadly flooding.

Gov. Ivey is sending four Type III Swiftwater search-and-rescue teams to assist Texas emergency officials.

“Alabamians always stand ready to lend a helping hand to our neighbors in need. I pray for Texans who are once again dealing with raging floodwaters,” Gov. Ivey said. “I thank our fellow Alabamians serving on the search-and-rescue teams and offer my prayers for a successful mission and safe return home.”

The current deployment teams include groups from Mobile, Lauderdale, Cullman, Marshall, DeKalb, Jefferson, Shelby and Chilton counties. These Type III teams are trained and equipped to operate in active flood zones. Each team will consist of eight personnel and multiple boats specifically built to aid search, rescue and recovery operations.

Relentless, heavy rain continues to fall across the Texas Hill Country, which is the same region hit hard by flooding last July.

“Just as Alabama stepped up to help during the devastating Camp Mystic flooding last year, our state is once again committing people and resources to assist Texas in this time of need,” Gov. Ivey said. The flooding last year at the camp killed a young girl from Mountain Brook, near Birmingham.

In the wake of that disaster, Gov. Ivey signed laws this year to help Alabama in similar emergencies, including a statewide notification system that will alert Alabamians to disasters. She also signed the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act and a dam safety program designed to help mitigate dam-related flooding in the state.