Tennessee Deploys Team to Support Texas Flooding Through EMAC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In response to the catastrophic flooding that has impacted Texas, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has coordinated with the Memphis Fire Department to deploy a Canine Search Team—Human Remains Detection (CST-HRD) team to Kerr County, Texas, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The team will assist local officials in the ongoing search and rescue operations for the next 14 days.

The Memphis Fire Department CST-HRD team consists of expert handlers and specialized search dogs trained in human remains detection. Their rapid deployment is in direct response to a formal request for aid through EMAC, a mutual aid system that enables states to share resources during times of disaster.

This request was made after severe floods impacted Texas Hill Country. The Guadalupe River surged more than 26 feet in under an hour. As of today, more than 100 lives have been lost and many remain missing.

This deployment follows another recent EMAC mission in which Tennessee’s Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce consisting of personnel from Hamilton, Hawkins, Williamson, and Unicoi counties were sent to North Carolina to support emergency communications staffing.

These consecutive deployments continue to display Tennessee’s deep commitment to the spirit of the Volunteer State and our ongoing readiness to assist other states in times of crisis through EMAC. Each deployment strengthens our capabilities and ensures Tennessee remains prepared to respond wherever it’s needed the most.

####

About the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency: TEMA’s mission is to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery from man-made, natural and technological hazards in a professional and efficient manner in concert with our stakeholders. Follow TEMA on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and at tn.gov/tema.