TEXAS TASK FORCE 1 DEPLOYS

  

Specially trained water rescue teams are positioned across the state to help emergency personnel respond to heavy rains and possible flooding expected over the weekend.

Crews with College Station-based Texas Task Force 1 deployed early Friday morning to spots along the I-35 corridor from San Antonio to Fort Worth. Rain fell steadily throughout the state Friday and is forecast to continue at least through today.

Among those are emergency swimmers who will each fly with a different helicopter search-and-rescue team along the corridor and seven swift-water rescue teams of six people each.

Texas Task Force 1 is sponsored by Texas A&M's Engineering Extension Service.

Officials are concerned the current system will be followed by the wet remnants of powerful Hurricane Patricia, which is now approaching the west coast of Mexico.

The systems will bring the most rain the state has seen since the devastating Memorial Day weekend flooding that led to at least 30 deaths.

Task force specialists can be repositioned depending on what the weather does and where the help is needed.