Kan. Governor Recognizes Rescue Teams Deployed to Tex. After Hurricane Harvey

Sept. 29—Gov. Sam Brownback and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer recognized water rescue teams from agencies across Kansas who were deployed to Texas to assist in recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey at a ceremony Wednesday.

First responders from the Salina Fire Department and Saline County Sheriff's Office were among those who attended the ceremony that took place on the south capitol steps and was followed by a reception at Cedar Crest that included the teams and their families.

The search and rescue teams, comprised of over 50 individuals from 16 different agencies across the state, deployed to Texas on Aug. 30 to assist with the floods after Hurricane Harvey. In addition to personnel, the deployment included hard bottomed, air, and inflatable boats. They all returned to Kansas on Sept. 5.

Working mostly in Katy, Texas, with teams from Oklahoma, Tennessee and Missouri, Kansas strike teams searched close to 1,200 structures and evacuated 27 individuals. In total, the joint operation resulted in over 4,000 structures searched and over 100 evacuations.