LA County Fire canine teams deployed to Texas to assist with search and rescue efforts
Newsom deploys teams to assist in Central Texas
Gov. Gavin Newsom sent recovery teams to assist in the devastating aftermath of the deadly flooding.
LOS ANGELES - On Wednesday, canine teams with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were on their way to Texas to assist with the devastating aftermath of catastrophic flooding that left at least 110 people dead and more than 170 missing.
‘It’s our opportunity to give back'
What they're saying:
The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services activated the teams for deployment on Tuesday.
Video showed the teams at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) preparing for departure for the mission.
"We know that many firefighters traveled from Texas to Los Angeles a little bit over six months ago to assist us with those terribly devastating wildfires that we had here," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone at LAX Wednesday morning. "So it's our opportunity to give back through the mutual aid system to help bring closure to families who are missing loved ones because every family deserves to be reunited with their loved ones that died as a tragic result of that flooding. "
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of central Texas," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone in a released statement. "I am grateful to California Governor Gavin Newsom and Cal OES for deploying our LACoFD canine teams to assist in the search and recovery efforts."
Depending on how the search and recovery efforts go, the county may send additional teams to replace the first two.
Meanwhile, firefighters across Southern California braced as heat and critical fire weather were expected over the next few days.
SUGGESTED: Southern California braces for critical fire weather and heat
Floods devastate Texas
The backstory:
LA Co. Fire K9 teams activated to assist in Texas flooding
The teams are preparing for a mission to assist with the devastating floods in Texas.
The deadly flash floods happened over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
On Tuesday, officials said four days had passed since anyone was found alive in the aftermath of the floods in Kerr County.
The bodies of 30 children were among those that have been recovered in the county, which is home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, the sheriff said.
The devastation spread across several hundred miles in central Texas all the way to just outside the capital of Austin.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- Texas Flooding: More than 170 missing, at least 110 dead
- Kristi Noem: ‘I walked through the cabin where all the little girls died’
- Sen. Cruz: ‘Zero evidence’ of weather modification in Kerrville flooding disaster
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story also used information provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).