TX-TF1 & Response Partners receive prestigious International Rescue Award

COLLEGE STATION – When the call came for Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) and every other group that was requested to respond to the deluge of floodwaters in the state this spring, the call was answered by an incredible partnership of organizations. Tireless training and practice enabled them to bring their combined strengths and capabilities together to action to save lives.

Since 1993, the Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards have recognized preparedness, teamwork, and a job well done for swiftwater rescues worldwide.

This year, TX-TF1’s Swiftwater Rescue Teams, Helicopter Search & Rescue Teams (HSART), along with many individual team members and State response partners received awards, including the Outstanding Achievement Award and the rarely bestowed Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Casey Ping, TX-F1 Water and Helicopter Rescue Director and Program Director at Travis County STAR Flight.

The awards were presented on Friday, Oct. 2, at the annual International Association of Water Rescue Professionals conference in South Bend, IN.

About Texas Task Force 1 

TX-TF1 is sponsored by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and has deployed over 90 times since 1997, including the Sept. 11th World Trade Center attack; Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy; the West, TX, explosion; Moore, OK, tornado; and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike. TX-TF1 can be activated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management or as one of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) 28 sanctioned urban search and rescue teams.

About TEEX

TEEX is an internationally recognized leader in the delivery of emergency response, homeland security and workforce training and exercises, technical assistance, and economic development. Last year, TEEX served more than 169,000 people from every U.S. state and territory and 79 countries worldwide. TEEX makes a difference by providing training, developing practical solutions, and saving lives.