Today, Florida’s Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) teams returned from an approximately 15-day deployment to Texas where they responded to devastating flooding across the state’s central region.
More than 60 personnel from Florida Task Forces 1, 4 & 8 covered a 265-mile search area, conducting life-saving flood rescues, swift-water boat operations, high-water vehicle missions, and canine-assisted searches.
Specifically, US&R Task Force 4 searched over 13 miles in Big Sandy Creek and 13 miles in Cow Creek as well as many other areas.
Florida’s US&R Task Force 4 in the Central Florida region returned and had a team of 35 personnel. This team was comprised of firefighters from the Seminole County Fire Department, Orange County Fire Rescue Department and the City of Orlando Fire Department. Below is breakdown of number of personnel from department who deployed:
- 10 personnel from the Seminole County Fire Department
- 10 personnel from Orange County Fire Rescue Department
- 8 personnel from City of Orlando Fire Department
- 7 others - civilian K9 handlers, civilian structure specialist and doctor. The other members on the team were from Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS and the Melbourne Fire Department.
“It was an honor to welcome home some of Florida’s finest, true heroes who braved dangerous conditions to work to save lives in Texas. These teams worked tirelessly across hundreds of miles of flood-ravaged terrain, and we’re proud to have them back home safe. When storms or disasters impact Florida, Texas has had our back, and it’s an honor to return the favor and support our neighbors out west as they work to recover from devastating flooding. This deployment reflects Florida’s unwavering commitment to disaster response and mutual aid in our nation’s greatest times of need.”
- CFO and State Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia
Seminole County Government
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Doreen Overstreet Public Safety Information & Education Officer
- July 22, 2025
- (407) 665-0000
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