AUSTIN — As families and residents prepare for the tropical disturbance moving into South Texas' coast on Friday morning, game wardens with Texas Parks and Wildlife have also been gearing up and making sure all emergency response teams are equipped for possible search-and-rescue missions.
While a number of wardens are already staged throughout parts of the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley, TPWD spokesperson Steve Lightfoot said an expected 60 to 75 game wardens from across the state are ready at the call to head down South.
For this weekend, TPWD Law Enforcement has mobilized two Level Three strike teams, equipped with specialized SAR units, swift water vessels and teams, K-9 assets and drone capabilities. In addition, TPWD is partnering up with the Texas Department of Public Safety's swift water and aviation team; a helicopter will also be on standby for any potential aerial SAR missions.
"In the last couple of days, my email and my phone and my texts have been ringing off the wall from game wardens that want to volunteer for this. In fact, they're almost offended if we don't plug them in, so I love that about them," said Colonel Grahame Jones, director of law enforcement for TPWD.
Jones said at least a dozen of the game wardens prepared to respond to the heavy rains and possible flooding are from the Central Texas area. Those responding would be self-sufficient for at least a five-day mobilization (excluding travel time). After that, a second shift will move in.
Jones explained that communication across all agencies working together is the most crucial component when it comes to responding to natural disasters and emergencies, not only for the sake of those who they are assisting but also for that of their own.
"Our men and women operate boats, are on the water. They're in rural areas all the time, so they're used to that. But again swift water rescue and these high-risk rescues are very technical. We work with our partners, Task Force One and DPS, routinely, but they're very technical rescues... So they're extremely dangerous. We train a lot for them, for these types of rescues, and we're ready; we are prepared," said Jones. "Their [wardens'] families are important, and we always try to put them in situations where they can take care of their families first and get them out of harm's way to where they can concentrate on the response."
When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, more than 300 Texas game wardens responded, rescuing more than 12,000 citizens. While a tropical disturbance won't bring as much damage to the coast as Harvey did, flooding can still be a major issue. It's something Jones said they never take lightly -- no matter the circumstances.
"We work very closely with the division of emergency management over at DPS at the state operations center. So we're in contact with them, and they're in contact with us and other state, local and federal resources... So that's really what we're doing right now. We're really pre-staging and gearing up for this response," Jones said. "In 1919, we lost our first two-game wardens killed in the line of duty. Actually, they died responding to hurricane relief. So, it's something that we're very, very proud of, but also something we take extremely seriously."
Jones explained that at this time, while there are no Texas game wardens responding to the Carolinas as Hurricane Florence moves into the Northeast, it is something that his team has discussed with other states on having plans ready to go. They are always prepared to answer the call and help.
"When you look at Texas, we love to help our neighbors," he said.