KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — The Ingram Volunteer Fire Department continues operations nearly one year after flooding in the Texas Hill Country claimed at least 117 lives in Kerr County. Two individuals remain missing following the disaster.
Volunteer firefighters received emergency alerts and deployed at 3:04 a.m. on July 4. The department coordinated search and recovery operations. Fire Chief Diana Baccus directed the initial search and rescue efforts. Fire Captain Tony Fernandez died during the flood response operations.
Recovery teams located victims at Camp Mystic. Volunteers from the U.S. and Australia assisted with the initial search and recovery efforts. Lauren Soules and her cadaver dog, Scout, conduct recovery searches for the department. Soules previously served in the U.S. Navy and relocated to Ingram, Texas, before the floods.
Regarding her condition during the crisis, she said, "I can't say that I'm doing okay, but I got a job to do and I'm going to do it." She stated the department would continue its work. Baccus said, "We may bend, but we're never going to break. Not going to happen."
No independent assessment was available for this report.