COLUMBIA, S.C. (Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017) - Texas Parks and Wildlife has requested the assistance of S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) game wardens for the purpose of Hurricane Harvey search and rescue efforts.
SCDNR officers will head to Texas Thursday morning, where they will join game wardens from Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, along with other first responders from multiple agencies, in searching the floodwaters for survivors. The need for assistance is so vast that Texas Monday activated its entire National Guard. Game warden assistance is requested because these men and women have experience working on the water and are skillful in navigating through flood conditions.
The duration of SCDNR officers’ stay in Texas is unknown and will be determined by the speed of recovery and ongoing needs for search and rescue, door-to-door checks, and manpower assistance. These efforts may be slowed due to continued Harvey rainfall expected to last through Sept. 1.
Agreements exist between certain state agencies that, in cases of natural disasters, partnerships form and agencies assist each other with recovery efforts.
For updates on SCDNR’s search and rescue efforts, keep an eye on the SCDNR Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lifesbetteroutdoors or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SCDNR?.
