Texas Game Wardens have completed 153 rescues and 92 evacuations during the state’s ongoing flood response, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported in a July 18 media advisory. Five pets or other animals have also been evacuated, according to the agency.
The figures, current as of 3 p.m. July 17, reflect a widening operation. The department said wardens have now been deployed to Uvalde, Crockett, Medina, Kerr, Bandera, Real, Val Verde, Kimble, Comal, Edwards, Frio and LaSalle counties, three more than the agency listed a day earlier, and it cautioned that the list is subject to change at any time.
Texas Game Wardens, part of the department’s Law Enforcement Division, have responded to numerous calls for service involving residents needing rescue and evacuation from flooded homes, vehicles submerged in floodwater and vehicles swept off roadways, state officials said. Those responses have been conducted by boat, vehicle and helicopter, with support from unmanned aircraft systems pilots. Aviation assets are also working with local and state agencies to evaluate roadways and infrastructure, and wardens are completing welfare checks for residents who have elected to shelter in place.
The department emphasized that its statistics cover Texas Game Wardens only and that the response to the weather event is overwhelmingly a joint effort among local, state and federal agencies. The agency said it is unable to provide overall response figures or account for work completed by other responders.
Fifteen state parks or state natural areas are experiencing various impacts from the heavy rains and subsequent flooding, according to the department, which urged travelers to review park alerts for area and full park closures and to consult the Texas Department of Transportation’s Drive Texas map before heading out. The agency said it will remain in a heightened state of readiness and will issue updates daily for as long as Texas Game Wardens are involved in response efforts.