The flooding in Texas has led to dozens of organizations providing mutual support and aid to those on the ground. Being deployed across the country or state is something that the Lake City Fire Company is familiar with.

They have helped with large scale flooding events across the state. Recently, they helped provide aid in Lawrence County in 2024, in the State College area in 2022 and in Philadelphia to help with submerged cars.


Whether assisting with a water rescue in Walnut Creek, or helping out across the state, the Lake City Fire Department has helped out in numerous natural disasters. But before they respond, it's all about making sure they are prepared.


Greg Summerson, the Assistant Fire Chief at the Lake City Fire Company said, "Just making sure you have all the equipment and necessities needed for the water, extra fuel, all the PPE, pretty much everything you need to be self sufficient for whatever time period you are being requested for."


It's type of equipment like different boats that are used for rescue operations here in town, but also when they are deployed across the state. Once on the scene, it's all about using their equipment and helping out wherever they can.


According to Summerson, "Inflatable boats that capable for shallow water or fast moving water, which we have three of them here. We also have our underwater equipment, so if we have to look underwater if someone may have gone missing or gone missing, we can start doing that so we don't have to deploy divers or exhaust divers quickly. We also have an underwater drone that once we do pick something up, we can go and check what it is before sending someone down. We also have underwater cameras, so if we have to check vehicle underwater, we don't have to send someone underwater masked up or put into additional harms way to be able to check vehicles that are submerged."


Although, Texas' flooding is no where near what Erie has experienced, there is still flooding concerns for the region. According to Summerson, "When it does start down pouring and you have limited visibility, it's probably not good idea to be in low lying area, because water likes to go to the lowest lying area and then the drainage isn't working properly, which you may not know about if its not going to drain properly and that's when its going to back up and flood."