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 (
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...
On the night of August 3rd and 4th, 2013, at the request of the Georgetown Police Department, TEXSAR conducted a search for Mr. James Hill, a 72-year old missing person in Sun City, Texas. At the time TEXSAR was dispatched, Mr. Hill had been missing for approximately four hours. TEXSAR, along with its partners at Travis County Search and Rescue, Texas Department of Public Safety, and clients with the Georgetown Police Department, were able to begin deployment within one hour of...
TEXSAR and TMAR working together in Galveston
On May 29 & May 30 TEXSAR participated in a full-scale hurricane response exercise to test and evaluated Galveston County’s emergency response resources. As part of this exercise, TEXSAR’s Search and Rescue Team, along with their partners from the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment (TMAR), participated in mock search & rescue operations around the county. Among these drills were exercises on Bolivar Peninsula where TEXSAR will be deployed during an actual Hurricane event.
Kemah Triathlon 2013 TEXSAR’s Incident Management Team and Search and Rescue Team – together with Galveston County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Kemah Police Department and a number of other agencies – successfully provided security for the 2013 Kemah Triathlon. In light of the recent tragedy at the Boston Marathon, Galveston County put a spotlight on public security, and TEXSAR used the opportunity to shine. “This event was an example of the awesome relationship between TEXSAR and the County of Galveston. TEXSAR...
Chief Nim Kidd of TDEM addresses the class. On April 18-20, 2013, search and rescue instructors from TEXSAR provided training for our partners in the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment (TMAR). The class this year had 65 members and included two full days of classroom and practical training followed by a night operations exercise on the evening of Friday the 19th and a full-scale exercise on Saturday the 20th. On Sunday, TEXSAR members were recognized by the Commanding General, Brigadier General...
On January 06, 2013 TEXSAR responded to a request from the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office to assist them with a missing person search in Santa Fe, Texas. TEXSAR members Andy Anthony, Shawn Hohnstreiter, John Gibbs, Wes Meyer, Jeremy White, Chance Berry and Greg Pyles responded. Also, nine Texas Maritime Regiment members responded to support TEXSAR. TEXSAR members served as SAR team leaders and CEO Greg Pyles served as SAR Branch Director. The responding...
On Saturday, October 27, nine TEXSAR members traveled to Bryan, TX to assist Cen-Tex SAR during a 200-person Search and Rescue training exercise at Lake Bryan. TEXSAR members fulfilled the roles of Incident Command personnel and canine flankers during the large exercise, which included the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment, Bryan Police and Fire Departments, Texas Department of Public Safety, and many other units and agencies to see how well multiple groups can coordinate and work together...
