We received these photos today from Richardson’s Fire Department personnel in South Texas working as part of the emergency response to the impacts from Hurricane Harvey. Four members from Richardson’s Fire Department were activated to be part of the response.

The team traveled Friday to Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio to await deployment to the impacted area. On Sunday they were sent to the community of Robstown, located just west of Corpus Christi. Yesterday the team was in Fort Bend County, which is home to Sugarland and other Houston suburbs. Today the team was in Houston assisting with search and rescue efforts as well as emergency medical response, and just finished evacuating a neighborhood in Houston within the past hour.

The Richardson fire personnel sent to the disaster area are part of a group called Texas Taskforce 2 and Texas Emergency Medical Task Force. The first responder groups are made up of emergency workers from cities across the Metroplex. Members train together and use equipment provided by federal grants. They are trained specifically for search and rescue and emergency medical response and are capable of responding to events in the state, across the country and even around the world.

Emergency workers in the impacted area are asking people who wish to help to donate to one of
the following resources:

• The Red Cross
  • Suggested $10 donation
  • The Red Cross
• Salvation Army
  • Suggested $25 donation
  • The Salvation Army
• Richardson Network of Community Ministries
  • Cash or in-kind donations
    • Suggested $35 donation
    • New underwear and socks (all sizes)
    • Non-Perishable food
    • Toiletries
    • Feminine hygiene products
    • Baby diapers, wipes and formula
  • (Network) 
• or dallashelpforharvey.net 
  • Volunteer opportunities and other resources.