On Wednesday, July 9, the rescue operation for the missing persons in the central Texas flood entered its sixth day with various rescue organizations continuing to search with full force and vowing not to give up.
During the ongoing search for at least 170 missing individuals in Texas, rescue teams have been working in sweltering and humid conditions.
Ryan Logue, an incident coordinator with the volunteer rescue organization United Cajun Navy, spoke to CNN and mentioned that the weather conditions make it very unlikely for the missing individuals to survive, making it “even harder to stay alive.”
The United Cajun Navy is a volunteer group composed of private boat owners that assist in search and rescue efforts along the Gulf Coast during natural disasters, using boats and skills to rescue people and transport supplies, gaining recognition for their swift responses and humanitarian aid during floods and hurricanes.
Their base is located along the Guadalupe River, downstream from several RV parks and campgrounds.
Logue stated, “I have been to all these places and there is nothing left there.” He added, “I will never lose hope and will rescue any life in distress.”
However, despite the efforts of multiple rescue teams looking for missing persons, no survivors have been found since Friday.
The Christian non-profit organization Mission Mules also joined the rescue efforts, utilizing mules to transport rescue equipment. Mike Toberer, the founder, told CNN that the organization arrived at the flood disaster site in central Texas on Tuesday and immediately began assisting in the rescue efforts, using mules to carry heavy equipment to aid in the search along the Guadalupe River.
According to the organization, a team of six mules has helped several chainsaw teams transport equipment to challenging locations and assisted in the search along the Guadalupe River.
Toberer mentioned that these mules had previously assisted in recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina, as they are able to climb over debris left in washed-out riverbeds, often including large rocks.
He recalled that upon arriving at the flood site, they witnessed swift water flows and high water levels, with some areas reaching 30 to 35 feet high, with a lot of debris washed away by the water.
According to the latest reports, this catastrophic flood has resulted in at least 111 deaths and over 170 people missing.
(This article referenced reporting from CNN)