VIDEO: Central Florida firefighters are no strangers to disaster response, but their latest mission to Texas forced them into unfamiliar terrain. More than 35 members of Florida Task Force 4, made up of personnel from Orange County, Seminole County and Orlando fire departments, have returned home after spending nearly 15 days in flood-ravaged Travis County, just outside Austin. The task force conducted search-and-rescue operations across more than 200 miles, navigating washed-out roads, raging floodwaters, and entire neighborhoods that had been cut off.
“The area we were in had about 10 people missing,” said firefighter Edward Haynes, with the Orlando Fire Department. “We were able to cover about a mile a day of that creek.” Crews used swift-water rescue boats, trained canines, and climbed through collapsed and damaged structures to search for survivors. Battalion Chief Geoffrey Leavens of Orange County Fire Rescue said the topography presented unique challenges. “We learned how to do searches in different topography — sheer cliff walls, rocky terrain — things we’re not used to in Florida,” Leavens said.
Despite the obstacles, the task force was able to locate two missing people. “Two families now have closure … that their loved ones were found,” Haynes said. Haynes also credited the team’s experience responding to hurricanes in Florida as valuable preparation for the deployment. “It does help us that we get so much experience with the storms that have hit us the past couple of years,” he said. “We’re used to clearing massive areas.” For others, the devastation hit on a deeper level.”We’ve seen a lot of devastation,” said Lt. Alan Ward, with the Seminole County Fire Department.
