Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the deployment of 18 Urban Search and Rescue Team members to Texas. These teams will assist in ongoing response efforts due to severe flooding. The deployment includes four units of Human Remains Detection Teams, which also have eight canines. The teams are from Los Angeles County, Riverside City, Menlo Park, and Orange County Fire Departments.
This recent deployment follows the dispatch of nine team members from Riverside City and Oakland City yesterday. Governor Newsom commented on the situation, stating: “The scale of loss and devastation Texas is experiencing right now is unfathomable. California is proud to lend a helping hand to our fellow Americans.”
California personnel will use their specialized skills during this deployment to aid emergency operations in heavily affected areas under the guidance of state and local officials. This coordination is part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) facilitating the deployment.
“Cal OES deploys these experienced teams to help those in need in Texas,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward. “These search and rescue professionals have the training needed to navigate extreme conditions.”
Additional resources may be sent if required as further flood impacts are possible. California has a history of deploying resources for various disasters since 1992, including notable events such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, Katrina, Rita, Ian, and others.
This current deployment does not affect California’s own emergency response capabilities.
