Lavaca EMS

Texans Helping Texans

Lavaca County EMS assist with Rio Grande Valley flood victims

  • Lavaca County EMS technicians volunteered to help in the Texans Helping Texans program. These two technicians traveled to the Rio Grande Valley from March 28 to April 4 and assisted with south Texas residents stricken by the severe flooding that took place March 26 through 28. From left are Abby Pulatie (paramedic) and Leslie Garcia (advanced EMT). Photo from Lavaca County EMS Facebook
    Lavaca County EMS technicians volunteered to help in the Texans Helping Texans program. These two technicians traveled to the Rio Grande Valley from March 28 to April 4 and assisted with south Texas residents stricken by the severe flooding that took place March 26 through 28. From left are Abby Pulatie (paramedic) and Leslie Garcia (advanced EMT). Photo from Lavaca County EMS Facebook

    On March 26 through early March 28, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) was inundated with over 20 inches of rainfall.

    Eastern Starr County, southern Hidalgo County and northern Cameron County were the most severely hit and set records of rainfall at many locations in those areas.

    The massive amount of rain resulted in major flooding in many neighborhoods across the RGV with flooding in Cameron County the most critical.

    Due to the RGV suffering from the massive flooding, a call for Texans Helping Texans was issued seeking assistance from counties throughout the state of Texas and the Lavaca County EMS responded.

    Lavaca County EMS Captain Jacob Tollett explained that Texans Helping Texans is a collaborative effort for first responders to help out in any way that is needed.

    The flooding in the RGV caused some local ambulance services to lose multiple ambulances due to the rapid rising floodwaters and two different teams of emergency medical technicians volunteered to help the flooded area.

    Tollett said one team, paramedic Abby Pulatie and advanced EMT Leslie Garcia went to the RGV on Friday, March 28 and remained there for a week.

    He said after they returned, a second team traveled to RGV on Friday, April 4 who included paramedic Ayiannia Adams and advanced EMT Luke Hinton and are still in south Texas.

    In addition, the county sent an ambulance with them to help provide relief by assisting in medical calls, evacuating flood victims and providing aid in other ways as well.

    “We are thankful to be able to represent our amazing county down south and bring some of our Lavaca County hospitality with us,” the Lavaca County EMS Facebook post said.

    In a San Benito Fire Department post, the department expressed their thanks to the Lavaca County EMS for their assistance.

    “We would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to Lavaca County EMS for their incredible support during the recent flooding,” the SBFD post said. “With several EMS units out of service, the activation of the emergency medical task force by the state governor was crucial. The additional resources provided are invaluable and truly make a difference when needed most. It was a pleasure to work with such dedicated professionals who stepped up in a time of crisis.”