Hill and Bosque county residents joined ongoing search efforts last week after the recent flooding that devastated the Texas Hill Country, leading to the recovery of a Williamson County victim.
Hill County Sheriff Hunter Barnes said that Williamson County Sheriff Matthew Lindemann requested assistance with manpower, equipment, drones and communications as the search for the missing continued.
Specifically, the sheriff was seeking help to recover the last victim who was lost in flooding near Liberty Hill.
“Williamson County had already been pushing hard for days, and with so many areas hit and resources spread thin, they needed backup,” said County Judge Shane Brassell. “Sheriff Barnes didn’t hesitate to offer help.”
A local task force quickly came together with members from Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Hill County Emergency Management, Covington and Bynum volunteer fire departments, Hillsboro Fire Rescue and the Bosque County Sheriff’s Office.
“Within 12 hours of the request, they were standing in the county fairgrounds parking lot, geared up and waiting for orders. No questions asked—just ready to serve,” Brassell said.
Covington VFD reported that it provided a large bulldozer and skid steer and four volunteers. Three Bynum volunteer firefighters joined the effort with a skid steer and utility task vehicle (UTV). Two Hillsboro Fire Rescue members volunteered, along with deputies from Hill and Bosque counties and Hill County Emergency Management with its communications van.
After Lindemann requested assistance Monday, July 7, the local team left early Tuesday morning to arrive in time for the morning briefing in Williamson County. They were briefed on the recovery mission, the terrain and hazards.
“Our guys were split up and assigned to teams they’d never met before,” Brassell said. “Different uniforms, different counties, but the same mission, and they went straight to work.”
After searching their assigned geographical areas for hours, a member of the Hill County team located the last victim by midday.
“These men didn’t go looking for credit,” said Brassell. “They went because someone needed help. That’s who they are, and that’s what Hill County is made of. I’ve already thanked them, but I’ll say it again, on behalf of the entire county, thank you. You made us proud.”
Covington VFD Chief Chris Lidster said that every agency in attendance was driven to complete the mission and provide closure to the victim’s family. “We were also eager to help due to all of the other local, state and federal resources occupying the hardest hit areas further south, leaving the smaller areas to improvise and request resources elsewhere.”
Sheriff Barnes thanked the task force members for their willingness “to go above and beyond at a moment’s notice.” He also thanked Judge Brassell, Hillsboro Department of Public Safety Chief Tony Cain, Bosque County Sheriff Trace Hendricks, Covington VFD Chief Chris Lidster and Bynum VFD Chief Kyle Radke for assisting in assembling the crew.
Lidster said, “We are extremely proud to be able to assist and proud of our personnel who were willing at a moment’s notice to help. The pictures and videos you see on TV don’t do the devastation justice. Water is extremely powerful.”
He added, “We would like to thank Judge Brassell and Sheriff Barnes for seeing us off that morning and sharing a prayer of safety and guidance. They didn’t have to be there at all, but it showed us the support and integrity that each office has for our local first responders. We also want to thank the personnel from each agency that teamed up with us and provided expert professionalism.”
Brassell said that Hill County’s law enforcement, fire personnel and heavy equipment teams answered the call not out of obligation, but out of dedication to serve. “These men have volunteered to go, to stand in the gap and to support our fellow Texans during their time of need,” he said. “Hill County continues to maintain full emergency response capability here at home, but we’re proud to support this regional effort. When Texans are hurting, we show up.”
The recovered victim was one of three people who were reported missing after flooding in Williamson County. Throughout the Hill Country region, the floods had claimed at least 120 lives with more than 170 still not accounted for by the end of last week.
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