A Mid-Missouri based elite urban search and rescue team has been activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deploy to Texas with a focus on water rescue operations and human remains detection capabilities.
Missouri Task Force 1, which is made up of firefighters, paramedics, physicians, structural engineers, canine handlers and technical experts from across Missouri, assembled a 52-member team Monday at the Boone County Fire Protection District headquarters in Columbia. Most of the team was scheduled to depart for Kerr County, Texas, at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The rest would deploy Tuesday.
The final destination has not yet been confirmed, but the team was to support search and rescue operations in response to the historic flooding affecting the region.
The deployment will include four human remain detection dogs and handlers, as well as an additional search team manager.
The team is expected to be deployed up to 14 days.
Updates on the deployment will be provided through the Boone County Fire Protection District’s social media platforms and on website at www.boonecountyfire.com.
Editor’s note: The story was updated to note the size of the deployment has increased.