Gov. Mike DeWine Dispatch Ohio State Troopers to Texas After Deadly July Fourth Flooding
In a show of interstate solidarity, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Monday that 20 state troopers and K-9 search teams are being deployed to Texas to support emergency response efforts after devastating flash floods killed at least 89 people during the July Fourth weekend.
The floods hit central Texas especially hard, with Camp Mystic in Kerr County confirming the tragic loss of 27 campers and staff members. Heavy rains caused a wall of water to tear through the century-old camp on Friday, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Search crews have recovered 75 bodies in the Texas Hill Country, including 27 children, with an additional 14 deaths reported across other regions of Texas. With more rainfall predicted, the risk of further life-threatening flooding remains high.
Gov. DeWine emphasized the importance of supporting Texas first responders, who have been working around the clock since the disaster began.
“By sending in our teams from Ohio, we can support recovery work and give some relief to the Texas first responders who have been working nearly nonstop,” DeWine said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Mobile Field Force will assist with traffic control, humanitarian relief, and search and recovery operations. K-9 teams from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will focus on river basin search zones where victims may still be missing.
Major David Brown, who is leading the Mobile Field Force, said the mission’s goal is to bring hope and closure to the affected families.
“Our biggest hope is that we can bring calm to chaos,” Brown stated. “We are ready to adapt to Texas’ needs on the ground.”
The Ohio teams are expected to remain in Texas for 7 to 9 days, with full operations starting Wednesday morning.
Brown added,
“It makes me proud to know the caliber of troopers we have in Ohio—individuals ready to put their lives on hold to help others in crisis.”
Ohio’s Mobile Field Force has previously responded to major disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and Ohio’s own deadly tornado outbreak in 2024.
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