Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flood Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Texas Parks and Wildlife details statewide flood response after July storms; 22 parks impacted, dozens rescued
Summary
TPWD officials told the commission that game wardens and state parks staff led search‑and‑rescue and evacuation operations after July floods affecting 22 parks; agency leaders described rapid predeployment of assets, 33 water rescues and extensive visitor notifications as part of an after‑action review.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department leaders on Aug. 20 described the agency’s multi‑division response to the July flood events in the Hill Country, praising swift deployment of law enforcement, aviation and State Parks assets while flagging communications and infrastructure improvements for the future.
“For the record, my name is David Joskiewicz,” the agency’s executive director said as he introduced the department’s review of land‑and‑water operations and emergency actions. He credited staff and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation for supplying equipment and disaster grants that supported game wardens and park staff in the field.
State Parks Director Rodney Franklin said 22 state parks were affected. Staff evacuated or relocated 124 campsites and 329 people, canceled events and used the agency’s central reservation system to contact 237 overnight and 658 day‑use visitors. “We had to move people out of the low‑lying areas and get them to high ground,” Franklin said, adding that most closures were temporary and parks reopened by July 26.
Colonel Ron Vander Roost, director of the law‑enforcement division, described a predeployment posture when the State Operations Center activated July 3. Vander Roost said aviation hoists, shallow‑draft boats, UTVs, ATVs and unmanned aerial systems were used in searches; the agency mobilized what he described as more than 375 game wardens for the Hill Country response and deployed roughly 475 pieces of equipment. He told the commissioners the response included 33 water rescues that likely prevented fatalities.
Commissioners and staff discussed lessons learned. Franklin and Vander Roost called for better communications in remote parks — including boosted cellular and satellite capabilities, expanded river‑gauge networks and audible alert systems — and said signage and portable PA systems will be emphasized in future planning.
The department said after‑action reviews are underway and that staffing, equipment and web‑based resources for internal affairs and emergency communications have been updated. No formal action was taken; the briefing concluded with commissioners thanking staff for the response and asking for follow‑up details in future reports.
