- Indiana Task Force 1 deployed to Texas to assist in search efforts after deadly floods along the Guadalupe River.
- At least 118 people are confirmed dead, with over 160 still missing in Kerr County alone.
- The 49-member rescue team deployed on Tuesday to support local recovery efforts.
Indiana Task Force 1, an elite urban search and rescue team, was deployed Tuesday night to Kerr County, Texas, where historic flooding has left over 160 people unaccounted for and claimed at least 118 lives.
The flooding began early Friday morning along the Guadalupe River, devastating communities across the Texas Hill Country. Search crews have recovered 87 bodies so far in Kerr County alone, and hopes of finding more survivors are fading fast, according to Texas officials.
Indiana Task Force 1 is made up of 49 highly trained personnel, including firefighters, medics, and search dogs. The team is led by Battalion Chief Jay Settergren of the Indianapolis Fire Department. The group left from their Indianapolis headquarters Tuesday evening and is headed for a staging area in San Antonio before moving into the disaster zone.
“Our mission is to support local agencies, locate missing persons, and bring closure to families who are living through unthinkable loss,” said a spokesperson for the task force.
While the nation has grown weary from ongoing political division, moments like these remind us of the power of unity and service. In a time of disaster, Americans answer the call—regardless of state lines or party affiliation.
The deployment reflects a long-standing commitment to national disaster response and serves as a sobering reminder of nature’s force—and the courage of those who respond to it.