The following was posted recently by Chief Mike Smith of the Roganville (TX) Volunteer Fire Department on the department’s Facebook page:
“Well yesterday was a long day. My crew and I put in 18 hours of playing in the flood water in downtown Kirbyville, Texas. Collectively, I would guess somewhere around 75 high water rescues were made in our area alone. We performed high water vehicle rescues, swiftwater boat rescues. We carried people and their fur babies. We saved a lot of animal lives at the Kirbyville Auction Barn. It was a very long, tiring day. The first thing I would like to share is this: We had zero loss of life. We are blessed with equipment to get around in flood waters. We did ultimately have some issues with our Punisher truck, but it performed well and did its job up to that point. It will be back in operation shortly. Several folks in our area lost everything they owned, but material things are replaceable. Thank you to my team and all other responders for a job well done.”