With about 100 people still missing after devastating floods swept through parts of Texas, international help arrived this week as a specialized search and rescue team from the Czech Republic joined recovery efforts led by the Texas National Guard and local authorities.
Sixteen Czech civilian rescuers and four cadaver dogs landed Sunday on a U.S. military flight from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, according to officials. The team will assist in ongoing search operations in flood-ravaged areas of the state.
National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Steve Nordhaus, who visited Kerrville on Tuesday for updates on the response, met with the Czech team’s leaders to welcome their support.
"This is what the State Partnership Program is all about — nations standing shoulder to shoulder in times of need," Nordhaus said.
The partnership between the Texas and Nebraska National Guards and the Czech Republic dates back to 1993. It was one of the earliest pairings established under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, launched in 1991 to foster military and civil cooperation between U.S. states and allied nations. Today, the program includes more than 100 partnerships involving about 115 countries worldwide.
Texas National Guard officials noted that the Czech assistance follows similar support provided last year, when Texas sent aid to the Czech Republic during its own severe flooding crisis.
“This partnership is built on decades of trust and shared experience,” said a spokesperson for the Texas National Guard. “Their presence here now shows the strength of that relationship.”
Local emergency management officials said the Czech team would be deployed immediately to assist in areas where search efforts continue for missing residents.
The floods, triggered by days of heavy rain and swollen rivers, have caused widespread damage across central Texas, displacing thousands and prompting a major disaster declaration from the federal government.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube