Latest news with #TEXSAR
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Texas Search and Rescue continues urgent underwater missions in Kerrville, battling fatigue and rain to find human remains and bring closure
Search and recovery efforts continue in Kerr County, 12 days after the tragic flood that claimed more than 130 lives along the Guadalupe. CBS News Texas shadowed Texas Search and Rescue in an area along the river where cadaver dogs might have found human remains. Despite the constant rain, heat, and exhaustion, the crews are doing whatever it takes to bring families closure. "It's almost hard to believe the force that water had," said TEXSAR Operations Manager Patrick Turck. Turck said he has crews coming from all over the state to their patch of the Guadalupe River, where they are aiming to find what they believe could be human remains. "I told they guys before we go out today, 'If it was your family member that was missing, how hard would you dig through that debris?' And I said, 'Don't give me an answer, think about it and get to work,'" Turck said.. The operation's biggest hurdle is digging up debris underwater, which just so happens to be a mission made for Dave Knesek, a former Navy SEAL of 20 years. "This is something I felt like I was suited to do," said Knesek. "There's entanglement-type hazards, there's strainers and things you can get pushed into." In Ingram, North Texas horse trainer, Casey Hildago, came to Kerr County from Granbury with just his horse and truck. He said his mission was to go to the most remote riverbanks to search for debris. The long days were worth it when a search ended in what he calls "a victory." "We just found out today, one of our locations we found on Thursday was confirmed to be one of our teammates' friend's daughters. It makes me want to go back out there and help for another week," Hidalgo said. Crews are battling both time and fatigue, but Turck said faith has been their fuel to keep going. "I can't say that any of the crews have suffered from any type of mental stress because the Kerrville Community has embraced us," said Turck. "We try and keep the focus on bringing these people home." It rained on and off Tuesday, and crews said the weather temporarily halted some operations. However, TEXSAR said it treats every day with urgency and will stay until it is no longer needed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Local photographer raises funds for Texas flood victims
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A local photography business is using its lens for a greater purpose, raising money for flood victims in Texas. Simple Memories Photography held a raffle offering a free deluxe package photo session. A $250 value as the grand prize. Owner Saydee Wilson says after seeing the destruction and loss across Texas, she felt compelled to help however she could. WATCH: Commercial boat crew caught manta ray near Panama City Beach As a mom, she says the images of children and families impacted her. So she turned her platform into a way to make a difference. 'I don't have extra funds to donate or try to help. And I can't just up and go and leave my family to help as much as I want to. I just couldn't do that. I have one-year-old twins, and they keep me busy. People just started flooding, and I'm so thankful. And I had a couple like extra donations on that,' photographer Saydee Wilson said. Wilson raised $280. Every dollar is going to a vetted relief group, including TEXSAR and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. While the raffle is over, donations are still being accepted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
4 days ago
- General
- USA Today
A flood killed his entire family in 2015. Now he has joined the search in Texas.
Jonathan McComb was the sole family member to survive similar floods in 2015. Since then, he has found a calling searching for others after deadly natural disasters. KERRVILLE, Texas – For nearly a week, Jonathan McComb has climbed into inflatable Zodiac rafts or hiked along the flood-scarred banks of the Guadalupe River, poking through brambles and uprooted trees, looking for victims. He works from sunrise to sundown. It's relentless, tedious, physically demanding work. And, as search and rescue turns to recovery, it can be soul-wrenching. McComb is one of hundreds of volunteers who have descended onto Kerr County in the wake of the deadly Independence Day floods here to help search for victims. But the task carries extra weight for McComb: He was the only one of his family to survive similar floods in 2015 in Wimberley, Texas, 80 miles east of Kerrville. Those floods destroyed about 400 homes and killed 13 people, including McComb's wife and two children. They were swept from his grasp as the house they were in was pushed along the Blanco River and broke apart against a bridge. On the morning of July 7, McComb, 45, gathered with about 20 members of TEXSAR, a search and rescue volunteer group based in Central Texas. On the banks of the Guadalupe – no longer destructive but still brown and swollen – the members discussed river currents and reminded one another to be careful with fallen branches and trees. As of that morning, the missing included at least 10 children attending a nearby Christian camp for girls. Live updates: Texas flooding death toll rises to 90; 10 campers missing Many of the volunteers were lending their expertise in search and rescue to a stricken community. For McComb, it was the fulfillment of a pact he struck with God while clinging to life in the raging Blanco River a decade ago. 'This one hits a little bit more at home,' McComb said in an interview with USA TODAY. 'I can see the hurt and the pain in the families. I know what they're going through and what they're feeling and what they're going to feel.' 'The magnitude of this is in its own category' Volunteers have streamed to Kerr County in the wake of the floods, some pulling skiffs on trailers behind trucks or with canoes strapped to the roofs of their SUVs. Authorities have asked volunteers to connect with a law enforcement agency before helping. TEXSAR alone has deployed 50 volunteers and six swift-water rescue boats, spokesperson Shannon Smith said. Over the years, TEXSAR teams have helped in hundreds of missions, from search and rescue in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas to rescuing lost hikers in the Guadalupe Mountains in West Texas. But few have compared to this disaster, Smith said. 'The magnitude of this is in its own category,' she said. At least 100 people have died in flooding across Texas since July 4, authorities say. The worst of the flooding occurred here in Kerr County, but people have died in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties. The toll included at least 27 children and counselors from a beloved all-girls summer camp, the camp said in a statement, as a frantic search for those still missing entered its fourth day. "Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy," the private Christian camp, Camp Mystic, said in a statement on its website July 7. "We are praying for them constantly." About 700 children were at the camp when relentless rain caused the nearby Guadalupe River to surge more than 26 feet in less than an hour, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said. Photos taken at the scene show a building where some of the children slept with broken windows and a blown-out wall. Among the mud-covered debris were pink blankets and stuffed animals. 'I'll tell your story and help others' The images have reawakened painful memories for McComb. On Memorial Day weekend 2015, McComb, his wife, Laura, their son Andrew, 6, and daughter, Leighton, 4, were vacationing at a riverfront home in Wimberley with another family when the floods hit. The raging waters pushed the home off its foundation and sent it rushing down the Blanco River. The home smashed into a bridge and ripped apart, plunging people into the river. McComb witnessed his family swept away by the angry current as they slipped from his grasp, he said. He resigned to go as well and slipped under the waves. But something bumped his head and jolted him awake. He called on God. 'I said, 'All right, I'm going to get out of here, and I'll tell your story and help others,'' McComb remembered. About 11 miles downriver, McComb finally climbed out, scaled a steep cliff and walked to safety. He was the only one of the nine people in the home that night to survive. Leighton's body was never recovered, he said. While recovering in the hospital, he learned that TEXSAR volunteers were looking for his family. He vowed to join the group as soon as he could. Later that year, he did. McComb has assisted in six missions with the group, including other weather events and helping find missing people. He has since remarried and has a 5-year-old daughter, Scarlett. He hugged her a little tighter before heading off to Kerr County. He arrived in Kerrville on the night of July 4 as the Guadalupe still roiled, joining search and rescue teams on Zodiac rafts. It has been a struggle, he said, to stay focused on the search while not letting his feelings distract him. 'It's a tug of war,' McComb said. 'I'm here to help. But knowing we weren't able to recover my daughter 10 years ago ... I know what that feels like. I want to do what I can to help.' He climbed into a pickup with his team and rode off to a stretch of uprooted trees and tangled debris downriver. There were more people to find. How to volunteer Where to donate Aid groups, nonprofits and other organizations are accepting donations to help survivors and assist in the recovery. The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country started the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, which will provide aid to vetted organizations in Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point and other areas. Crowdfunding website GoFundMe has an updated page for verified fundraisers connected to flood victims and their families. Other organizations accepting donations include the World Central Kitchen and The Salvation Army, which is distributing supplies and has set up a mobile kitchen in the disaster area.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Verizon donates $100,000 to support Texas Search and Rescue and waives call/text/data usage for hardest hit customers
What you need to know: In response to the flash floods on July 4, Verizon is donating $100,000 to Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) to aid their vital search, rescue, and recovery operations. Verizon is waiving domestic call/text/data usage incurred July 7 - Aug 3 for consumer prepaid, postpaid, and small business customers* in 95 zip codes across 28 affected Central Texas counties. The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has provided low-earth orbit satellite devices to aid the Texas Department of Public Safety's drone search and recovery operations. IRVING, Texas, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In response to the devastating Central Texas floods, Verizon is supporting its customers and local communities by donating $100,000 to Texas Search and Rescue, a first responder organization that deploys professionally trained volunteers throughout the state of Texas to support its crucial search, rescue, and recovery operations. In addition to the donation, Verizon is waiving domestic call/text/data usage from July 7 to August 3 for all consumers (prepaid and postpaid), small business accounts*, and Verizon Prepaid users on metered plans across 95 zip codes in 28 affected Central Texas counties. This includes customers of Verizon's prepaid brands like Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Walmart Family Mobile, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, Net 10, Page Plus, Safelink, and Go Smart. No action is required from customers in the impacted zip codes to receive this relief offer. Further details on eligible Central Texas counties and zip codes are available at 'Our hearts go out to those impacted by the heartbreaking scale of the Central Texas floods,' said Michelle R. Miller, Senior Vice President at Verizon. 'We are committed to providing the resources and connectivity our neighbors need for safety and recovery. This donation and relief offer are how we can help when it matters most.' 'Verizon's generous donation is an incredible boost to our efforts as we continue to support local authorities through search, rescue, and recovery operations in Central Texas,' said Justin McInnis, President and CEO of TEXSAR. 'Their support directly enables our volunteer first responders to provide assistance to those impacted by these catastrophic floods, ensuring we have the resources needed to continue our ongoing search efforts.' Despite the extensive devastation across the region, Verizon's network remains operational. Its teams are actively monitoring the situation to prioritize life, safety and connectivity. Verizon is also in contact with local public safety and emergency management teams to coordinate any communication needs or support. This includes providing low-earth orbit satellite devices to aid the Texas Department of Public Safety's drone search and recovery operations. Beyond aiding search and recovery, satellites play a crucial role in making connectivity more reliable for customers. With select Android and iOS devices, customers can access satellite messaging and emergency SOS features, including location detection, in some areas without traditional cellular coverage. To learn more about satellite messaging: Find the latest updates at the Verizon Emergency Resource Center: *Verizon small business customers include customers with 50 lines or less. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024. Verizon's world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit or find a retail location at VERIZON'S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit Media contacts: Jeannine Brew Ashley
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Verizon donates $100,000 to support Texas Search and Rescue and waives call/text/data usage for hardest hit customers
What you need to know: In response to the flash floods on July 4, Verizon is donating $100,000 to Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) to aid their vital search, rescue, and recovery operations. Verizon is waiving domestic call/text/data usage incurred July 7 - Aug 3 for consumer prepaid, postpaid, and small business customers* in 95 zip codes across 28 affected Central Texas counties. The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team has provided low-earth orbit satellite devices to aid the Texas Department of Public Safety's drone search and recovery operations. IRVING, Texas, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In response to the devastating Central Texas floods, Verizon is supporting its customers and local communities by donating $100,000 to Texas Search and Rescue, a first responder organization that deploys professionally trained volunteers throughout the state of Texas to support its crucial search, rescue, and recovery operations. In addition to the donation, Verizon is waiving domestic call/text/data usage from July 7 to August 3 for all consumers (prepaid and postpaid), small business accounts*, and Verizon Prepaid users on metered plans across 95 zip codes in 28 affected Central Texas counties. This includes customers of Verizon's prepaid brands like Straight Talk, Total Wireless, Walmart Family Mobile, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, Net 10, Page Plus, Safelink, and Go Smart. No action is required from customers in the impacted zip codes to receive this relief offer. Further details on eligible Central Texas counties and zip codes are available at 'Our hearts go out to those impacted by the heartbreaking scale of the Central Texas floods,' said Michelle R. Miller, Senior Vice President at Verizon. 'We are committed to providing the resources and connectivity our neighbors need for safety and recovery. This donation and relief offer are how we can help when it matters most.' 'Verizon's generous donation is an incredible boost to our efforts as we continue to support local authorities through search, rescue, and recovery operations in Central Texas,' said Justin McInnis, President and CEO of TEXSAR. 'Their support directly enables our volunteer first responders to provide assistance to those impacted by these catastrophic floods, ensuring we have the resources needed to continue our ongoing search efforts.' Despite the extensive devastation across the region, Verizon's network remains operational. Its teams are actively monitoring the situation to prioritize life, safety and connectivity. Verizon is also in contact with local public safety and emergency management teams to coordinate any communication needs or support. This includes providing low-earth orbit satellite devices to aid the Texas Department of Public Safety's drone search and recovery operations. Beyond aiding search and recovery, satellites play a crucial role in making connectivity more reliable for customers. With select Android and iOS devices, customers can access satellite messaging and emergency SOS features, including location detection, in some areas without traditional cellular coverage. To learn more about satellite messaging: Find the latest updates at the Verizon Emergency Resource Center: *Verizon small business customers include customers with 50 lines or less. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024. Verizon's world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit or find a retail location at VERIZON'S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit Media contacts: Jeannine Brew Ashley in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
