Thursday, February 20, 2014 Austin, Texas – Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) is pleased to announce that Cen-Tex Search and Rescue will become a part of TEXSAR effective March 01, 2014. This will expand TEXSAR’s search capabilities to include a K9 strike team specializing in trailing, area search and human remains detection (HRD). Cen-Tex Search and Rescue; Canine and Mounted (Cent-Tex), was founded in November 2002 in the Brazos Valley. Since 2004, Cen-Tex has been called to assist in over 100...
On Saturday, January 25, 2014, TEXSAR assisted law enforcement during the search for Leanne Hecht Bearden, 33, who had been missing since the previous Friday when she walked away from a residence in Garden Ridge, TX. Working closely with Garden Ridge Police Department, Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Texas DPS, and the Texas Rangers, TEXSAR planned and conducted operations throughout the day that involved over 150 people from 18 agencies and Search and Rescue teams from across the state and...
Search in Big Bend to Rescue a Lost Hiker The December issue of the Texas Division of Emergency Management newsletter, Texas Emergency Management Online, includes a featured article about TEXSAR. As the article mentions, 2013 has been a busy year for TEXSAR. During the first 10 months of 2013 TEXSAR responded to 12 deployments, 5 planned events and provided formal, certified training to 7 agencies. The deployments have ranged from Big Bend to North Texas to Central Texas and Galveston. TEXSAR is proud...
Caldwell County Search On December 12th, 2013, Texas Governor Rick Perry formally requested a Presidential disaster declaration for the State of Texas. This request was made as a result of massive flooding which occurred from October 31st to November 16th, 2013. A state disaster declaration was also made on December 12th. TEXSAR was specifically called out in the disaster declaration for its search and rescue, incident management, resource coordination, and provision of technical specialists during the Caldwell county search phase...
TEXSAR assisted as requested by Caldwell County OEM for a missing person search near Polonia Road on Tuesday November 12, 2013. The person had gone missing during the October 31, 2013 flood event. DPS divers recovered the vehicle on Monday November 11, 2013. Working with Alamo Area SAR and Chisholm Trail VFD, TEXSAR located and recovered the missing person just before noon. The technical water recovery took two hours to complete and all personnel on scene exhibited strong skills. TEXSAR is appreciative...
When severe weather moved through the Central Texas region last week, TEXSAR was called upon to help those in need. For 5 straight days our members answered the calls to help their fellow Texans by conducting swiftwater rescues and participating in search and recovery efforts to help bring closure to families that tragically lost loved ones to the floods. Notable Callouts Included: Swiftwater rescue of motorist in Onion Creek flood waters off of I-35 access road. Support Hays County EOC swiftwater rescue efforts. Supports...
On Friday, November 1, 2013 TEXSAR members participated in multi-agency search and recovery effort along a flooded Onion Creek in Southeast Travis County. TEXSAR Members at the Onion Creek Search With crews in the air and on the ground, searchers from TEXSAR, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Game Wardens, Travis County Search and Rescue, APD Search and Rescue, and Alamo Area SAR were able to traverse the treacherous flood zone to locate and recover Josefina Rodriguez and her son Jay Rodriguez...
On the morning of Saturday, October 5, 2013, TEXSAR received a request from Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), and Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) to assist in the search for Cathy Frye, who had been missing in Big Bend Ranch State Park since that Wednesday. Along with partners from the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment (
TEXSAR deployed two task forces and incident management team members in Galveston County over Labor Day weekend. TEXSAR worked in conjunction with the Galveston County OEM and Sheriff’s Office, Jamaica Beach Fire, Crystal Beach Fire, Galveston Fire, Galveston Beach Patrol and the US Coast Guard. All work hard to provide high quality public safety services. TEXSAR Team members performed search and rescue missions, fire calls, responded to medical and trauma calls, ran beach patrols/ water rescue resources and worked...
DPS helicopter assisting with search in Elgin On the morning of August 14th, 2013, at the request of the Bastrop County Sheriff, TEXSAR, Travis County Search & Rescue, and the Texas Department of Public Safety aerial resources conducted a search for Mr. Gary Lowry, a 58-year old missing person in Elgin, Texas. At the time TEXSAR was dispatched, Mr. Lowry had been missing for approximately 56 hours. TEXSAR began deployment to aid law enforcement resources already in the area within one...
