As first team hits the ground, Alabama sends second group of rescue workers to assist in Texas flood aftermath

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July 14, 2025

Alabama rescue workers arrive in Texas (Gov. Ivey /X)

Gov. Kay Ivey announced that the first group of Alabama rescue workers arrived in Texas today to assist with disaster relief efforts.

Yellowhammer News reported last week that Governor Kay Ivey announced the deployment of a 40-person Alabama search and rescue team to assist Texas following devastating floods that killed more than 100 people. That initial deployment on July 10 included Alabama Task Force 1 out of Mobile, along with personnel from the Tuscaloosa and Saraland fire departments. The multi-disciplined team is equipped to respond to all types of hazards by locating, accessing, stabilizing, and rescuing survivors from damaged areas, with specialized personnel in rescue, canine search, medical care, hazardous materials, technical search, and communications.

In her announcement, Ivey said Alabama is doing all it can to help Texans in need while grieving the loss of two Alabamians who died in the flooding. She also expressed her prayers for the families of those lost and for the safety and success of the teams assisting in rescue missions.

“We just deployed a search and rescue team to Texas. I am grateful to all those who are part of the search and rescue mission, and I pray for their safety and for their success. Alabama is doing all we can to lend a helping hand to Texas. Y’all, pray for Texas!”

A second deployment of Alabama rescue workers left this past weekend as part of the Alabama Mutual Aid System Task Force 2. According to CBS42, this group includes personnel from Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Decatur, Fort Payne, and Guntersville fire departments, along with support from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. The task force is equipped with two swift water rescue teams and is prepared to assist with water rescues as needed.

This second team, known as AL-TF2, was previously activated for recovery operations in Asheville, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene. The deployment to Texas is expected to last up to two weeks.

National news stations reported that even though rescue efforts in Kerr County, Texas, were temporarily halted due to heavy rains and a renewed flood threat on Sunday, some search efforts resumed later on Sunday and were expected to continue on Monday, weather permitting.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].