<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=09ZNoG_1GnagJiE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=09ZNoG_1GnagJiE00" width="1600" height="1200" ><figcaption>Task Force One swift-water squads faced muddy, dangerous water during rescues. (Courtesy/Steve Dankers)</figcaption></figure>Multiple swift-water rescues in San Juan County were conducted by a Texas A&amp;M task force that came to the area to help local crews navigate the natural disaster.“So our job is to help coordinate and facilitate our water rescue teams, help get them to the impacted areas where they can conduct search and rescue, swift-water rescues,” said Steve Dankers, the supervisor, who is based in College Station, Texas.Dankers, who’s been with the task force for 19 years, works as a fireman in Longview, Texas. He’s worked in flooded areas throughout Texas, Florida and North Carolina.He headed up four swift-water squads consisting of six members, each with two trucks and eight boats responded to San Juan County. The members came from the El Paso, San Antonio, Denton, Fort Worth and Longview Fire Departments.They arrived Oct. 24 and started helping with a wide area search of neighborhoods to make sure there were no missing or lost individuals, Dankers said.“Multiple swift-water rescue events” were conducted the weekend of Oct. 31 on the Animas River with crews having to navigate some very difficult conditions that involved some significant swift water” fences and trees you can get caught up in,” Dankers said.Dealing with contaminated water or things that can trap people can be challenging, he said, adding they “very much try to encourage” people to evacuate … “but ultimately, that’s their choice.”While here, they evacuated 29 people and 16 pets. They conducted 79 searches and rescued 10 people, Dankers said.Their crews have worked the whole stretch of the San Juan, Animas to the Colorado border and the La Plata River.“We also assisted with damage assessment and just kind of helping the county collect data for their disaster declaration,” he said.They assessed 24 damaged properties – four with major damage and two with minor damage, he said.Whether it’s doing damage assessments, helping people get medications or help with animals, Dankers said it’s “always satisfying.”“Ultimately, we enjoy the rescue because that’s when you can have a very positive impact on somebody,” Dankers said. “And to be able to save somebody from bad situation is always very rewarding.”Dankers’ worked with a lot of agencies the county, and he said, “they’ve all been extremely hospitable. They’ve taken very good care of us, and it’s been a quite an honor to be able to be here and help out.”</div></body>

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Multiple swift-water rescues in San Juan County were conducted by a Texas A&M task force that came to the area to help local crews navigate the natural disaster. “So our job is to help coordinate and facilitate our water rescue teams, help get them to the impacted areas where they can conduct search and rescue, swift-water rescues,” said Steve Dankers, the supervisor, who is based in College Station, Texas.

Texas A&M Task Force One helps out San Juan County

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Multiple swift-water rescues in San Juan County were conducted by a Texas A&M task force that came to the area to help local crews navigate the natural dis

Texas A&M Task Force One helps out San Juan County

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