Before floodwater rises and emergency calls begin, Texas Game Wardens are already preparing for potential rescues.
While meteorologists track incoming storms, Texas Game Wardens Search and Rescue Captain Matthew Kiel uses the same weather data to decide where crews and equipment should be positioned ahead of severe weather.
Kiel leads a 53-member search-and-rescue team trained to respond to floods and other disasters across Texas.
He said one advantage that Texas Game Wardens have is that they’re already stationed in communities throughout the state.
“We’re already in every county in the state,” Kiel said. “My game wardens are there, and they care about the communities that they’re involved in.”
That preparation was put to the test in the July floods, when Texas Game Wardens worked alongside authorities to conduct high-water rescues.
“Everything about this is a team effort,” Game Warden Derrick Grimsby said.
Every Texas Game Warden receives water-survival training, while many complete additional swift-water rescue instruction. However, Kiel says the job’s greatest challenges are not always physical.
“Our guys are human. They’re not machines,” he said, noting that repeatedly witnessing tragedy and loss can take an emotional toll on first responders.
Kiel says many Texas Game Wardens respond after already working a full day, leaving their families in the middle of the night to help Texans in danger.
As severe weather threatens communities across the state, Kiel urges the public to pay attention to warnings and avoid driving through flooded roads.
“Take a second, look at that water crossing and realize that just getting across that is not going to save your day,” he said.
Kiel says the mission is simple: protect Texans during disasters while ensuring the first responders who answer the call make it home safely.
“They’re doing this because they love people and they want to make sure they’re safe,” Kiel said.
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