WASHINGTON — Technical teams from D.C.-area fire departments are busy putting their expertise to good use in Texas.
As of Friday, flooding was worsening where Maryland Task Force 1 was checking on yet-to-be-searched rural communities near Angleton, Texas, which is about 21 miles inland from the coast.
“The water apparently is rising in this area,” said Pete Piringer, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service spokesman.
“More and more roads are being shut down, and utilities are being affected,” he said.
The Montgomery County crew is teamed up with National Guard units and Pennsylvania Task Force 1.
Both Maryland and Virginia teams are among FEMA’s 28 urban search-and-rescue task forces nationwide.
About 30 Maryland Task Force 1 team members have been deployed to Texas with assignments related to water rescues, hazardous materials and incident support. The full team includes about 200 people.
Here at home, task force team members, boats and other assets are ready to deploy immediately if needed for another emergency or for relieving or rotating with crews in Texas, Piringer said.
Virginia Task Force 1 of Fairfax County was working in the area of Kingwood, Texas, which is north of Houston.
In a YouTube video Friday, Chuck Ryan — the assistant fire chief of Fairfax County Fire & Rescue as well as the task leader of Virginia Task Force 1 — said the team wrapped up activities around Kingwood at nightfall Thursday. They’ve since relocated to the Katy, Texas, area with other FEMA teams.
“Today has brought no additional taskings for the teams,” he said. “So they’re using the day today to resupply and restock their logistics, as well as do some light maintenance on the boats and other equipment, but they do stand ready for deployment by FEMA.”
WTOP’s Jack Pointer contributed to this report.
