Before Monday morning, Braden and Kimberlie Dando had never heard of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Today, they say they owe their lives to the FWC officers who have been deployed to the Houston area to help rescue flood victims.

“If they didn’t show up I don’t what we would have done because we did not have a way to get out. I just want to thank them for what they did,” Braden, 25, said during a telephone interview from his mother-in-law’s house in Highlands, Texas.

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The Dandos two boys–Paxton, 3, who is autistic, and Nixon, 15 months old–were also inside the apartment. Their parents concern grew as the flood waters began to cover Nixon’s crib.

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“We had to swim with our kids,” Kimberlie recalled. “We literally had to drag our 3-year-old, while he was screaming, out of the house.” Continue reading →

More Than 400 Florida Volunteers Deployed to Texas and Louisiana

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers are continuing to actively assist with disaster response efforts in the Houston area. FWC officers have rescued more than 500 Texans since arriving in the area after being deployed by Governor Scott in response to Texas’ request for emergency assistance. Additionally, more than 400 Florida volunteers have been deployed to Texas and Louisiana as Volunteer Florida continues to coordinate the activities of 11 disaster relief organizations.

FWC Response Efforts:

• More than 500 Texans rescued by FWC officers since arriving in the area after being deployed by Governor Scott in response to Texas’ request for emergency assistance.
• Nearly 125 FWC officers are supporting ongoing search and rescue and disaster response efforts.
• FWC resources deployed to Texas include more than 40 boats, 17 high water vehicles, two Mobile Command Centers, and eight shallow draft vessels.

Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers are continuing to actively assist with disaster response efforts in the Houston area. FWC officers have rescued more than 200 Texans since arriving in the area after being deployed by Governor Scott in response to Texas’ request for emergency assistance. Nearly 125 FWC officers, more than 40 boats, 17 high water vehicles, two Mobile Command Centers, and eight shallow draft vessels are currently in Texas to support ongoing search and rescue and disaster response efforts.