Indiana – A team of skilled first responders from Indiana has been sent to Texas to assist in search and rescue efforts as part of an emergency support operation. The deployment was carried out through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a national mutual aid system that allows states to support one another in times of crisis.
The Indiana team, which includes five experienced responders and three trained search dogs, left for Texas on Friday and has now arrived on site to begin their mission. This group is specially trained in search and rescue operations and was quickly assembled to meet the urgent needs in the affected areas.
Leading the team is Chief Jeremy Pell of the White River Township Fire Department, accompanied by his K9 partner, Rosie. The rest of the team includes Officer Carter Pell of the Speedway Police Department, Lt. David Scholl from White River Township Fire, Sergeant Matthew Zarrella—a retired Canine Commander from the Rhode Island State Police—along with his search dog Toby, and Amy Sitler from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and her K9 partner Luna.
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These responders bring with them years of experience and specialized training in search and rescue techniques, working in difficult and often dangerous conditions to help locate people who may be missing or trapped.
“The team’s deployment reflects Indiana’s commitment to helping other states during emergencies,” officials stated. “Their expertise is vital in supporting communities that are overwhelmed and in need of assistance.”
The exact nature of the operation in Texas has not been fully disclosed, but officials emphasized that the Indiana responders are fully equipped to handle a variety of complex scenarios.
State leaders and emergency management agencies are asking the public to keep the team in their thoughts during this time. “Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers,” officials said.
The deployment demonstrates how state-to-state cooperation, made possible through EMAC, plays a crucial role in large-scale emergency responses across the country. As Indiana’s responders begin their work in Texas, they carry with them not only their skills and equipment but the hopes and support of their communities back home.
