A South Carolina search and rescue team is headed to Texas to help with flood response.
Gov. Henry McMaster announced the deployment Tuesday.
McMaster said the decision followed a direct ask from Texas Gov. Greg Abbot on Monday.
The team, called Task Force 1, includes five people and two cadaver dogs. They will help with response and recovery efforts, the governor's office said.
Texas officials said more than 100 people have died across several counties as a result of the severe flooding that hit Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend. Kerr County, one of the hardest hit counties and the home of Camp Mystic, reported the highest number of deaths.
“Team South Carolina stands ready to offer any support we can,” McMaster said in a statement. “In some of our toughest moments, the people of Texas were there for us. Now, it’s our duty to return that support and stand by our friends in their time of need.”
In some of our toughest moments, the people of Texas were there for us. Now, it is our time to return their support. We've sent a search and rescue team, including two human remains detection K9s, to assist with recovery efforts following this weekend's tragic flooding.
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) July 8, 2025
The governor's office said the deployment is through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a nationwide mutual aid system that helps with disaster assistance, and through a partnership with the Greenville-based South Carolina Foothills Search and Rescue.
Kim Stenson, the state's Emergency Management Division director, said South Carolina has a "strong history" of supporting states in emergency response situations, including in Alaska, California, Florida and Kentucky.
