EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — As floodwaters from the Guadalupe River continue to surge, federal rescue teams from El Paso remain on the front lines, assisting in ongoing search and rescue efforts in Central Texas.
The Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue, or BORSTAR, deployed 42 agents after a request from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Agents are operating along a stretch of nearly 120 miles from Camp Mystic to Canyon Lake, officials said.
“We consist of incident command specialists, land navigation specialists, swift water specialists, which is key for what we’re doing here,” Eric Wells, BORSTAR’s national commander, said. “There have been slick, steep embankments, large debris piles with fallen trees, various machinery, housing and camps that have been pushed away by the water.”
BORSTAR’s specialized teams include swift water rescue, technical rope operations, public safety divers, and K9 teams trained in both live search and human remains detection.
So far, agents have rescued multiple people, including a volunteer who “slipped down a bank into rapid current while trying to help others.”
The unit is working closely with Texas DPS, the U.S. Coast Guard, and local emergency teams, coordinating from the air, water and ground.
“This is a major disaster, and it’s very catastrophic. The loss of life is significant,” Wells said. “Our efforts to try and assist with any situation like this, we’ll try to get involved with and provide that support and put our expertise and skill set to good use and try to bring some closure to some families.”
There is no defined end date for BORSTAR’s deployment. Wells confirmed the team will remain in Central Texas as long as necessary, with the ongoing mission now part of a broader federal flood response.
Additionally, six members of the El Paso Fire Department’s water rescue team are also on site. Their deployment is expected to continue at least through July 15, with the potential for extension.
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