Texas Deploys Emergency Workers To Florida Ahead Of Hurricane

AUSTIN, TX — A Texas task force armed with specialized equipment that includes flood and swift water rescue boats arrived in Florida on Monday in response to Hurricane Dorian currently threatening Florida residents.

"Help is on the way!" Gov. Greg Abbott wrote in a tweet at around 4:15 p.m. after receiving news of the emergency crews' arrival in the Sunshine State currently darkened in the specter of the deadly Category 5 hurricane that already claimed at least five lives after sweeping through the Bahamas.

Abbott's counterpart, Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia, on Monday afternoon declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to impact southeastern Virginia by Thursday. Florida also is in the path of the powerful storm, prompting Abbott to deploy Texas Task Force 1's Type III task force under the request and support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Abbott wrote in a previous press advisory. The Type III task force consists of 45 personnel and specialized equipment including flood and swift water rescue boats.

"Texas offers its full support to the state of Florida, and we remain at the ready to offer additional assistance as needed," Abbott wrote. "I am grateful to our first responders who have stepped up to assist Floridians in their time of need, and I ask that all Texans pray for all those in the path of this storm."

Texas Task Force 1 is also prepared to respond to a request for an additional six flood swift water rescue and evacuation boat squads to work directly with the state of Florida, Abbott added. The contingent of 50 highly trained water rescue professionals from multiple Texas cities will utilize a dozen rescue boats and technical gear to assist in water rescue efforts, he said.

Additionally, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Texas Game Wardens are prepared to respond with Texas Task Force 1 as part of the six flood swift water rescue boat squad search and rescue teams, according to Abbott's missive.

Virginia is currently under alert ahead of a storm that could include coastal and inland flooding, storm surge, damaging winds and prolonged power outages, the governor's office said in a news release Monday afternoon.

“Hurricane Dorian is a serious storm, and current predictions indicate that it may affect parts of Virginia. I am declaring a state of emergency to ensure that localities and communities have the appropriate level of assistance, and to coordinate the Commonwealth’s response to any potential impacts from Hurricane Dorian," Northam said. "I encourage Virginians to take all necessary precautions to make sure they are prepared as well."

The Texas aid arrives in Florida a little over one week since Abbott commemorated the second anniversary of Hurricane Harvey at the groundbreaking of the new Fulton Pier and ceremonially signing into law two bills addressing natural disaster preparedness and response. Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Houston and areas along the Gulf Coast as it swept through its own deadly trajectory.

"In the two years since Hurricane Harvey, Texans have responded with strength and determination to restore the communities affected by the storm,” Abbott said at the commemoration event. “Today marks the next step in the recovery process as we continue to work together to rebuild these communities stronger and more resilient than ever. Texans continue to show that no earthly force can match the Texas spirit.”

As part of the ceremony, Abbott signed Senate Bill 6 that addresses several recommendations from the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas, including improvements to the state's disaster response and recovery efforts as well as establishes a loan program to meet the financial needs of communities recovering from disaster. He also signed House Bill 6 into law, creating a disaster recovery task force to assist with financial issues related to disaster recovery. The legislation also requires training of emergency management coordinators and for all emergency management programs to provide for catastrophic debris management.