A driver tried to get himself and his dog out of Rock Springs, Texas by driving through floodwater. The truck got stuck as the water rose around them.
Two separate rescue teams responded.
What Happened on October 1
Rock Springs was hit by flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Polo. A driver who was trying to reach safety became trapped in his truck as water levels climbed around both him and his dog.
The local fire department reached the driver. The El Paso Fire Department Water Rescue Team, deployed nearby as part of Texas Task Force 1, was called in separately to handle the dog.
Dogs survive water emergencies when someone acts fast enough. Bear, a golden retriever from Illinois, was found alive near a flooded river after three days because his family refused to stop looking.
Why El Paso Firefighters Were in Central Texas
As KTSM reported on the Rock Springs rescue, six members of El Paso’s Water Rescue Team had deployed to Central Texas with two boats and two trucks to help communities affected by the flooding.
Texas Task Force 1 is a statewide mutual aid system that allows departments to deploy resources across hundreds of miles when local capacity is overwhelmed.
“Our Water Rescue Team has been working day in and day out, both here at home and across the state, helping people and families affected by the heavy rains and flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Polo,” EPFD said.
El Paso firefighters reached the dog and brought him to shore safely.
The Decision That Made Two Rescues Necessary
Turn around, don’t drown is one of the most repeated flood safety messages in the country. It exists because driving into floodwater is one of the most common ways people die during floods, and because the water almost always looks shallower and slower than it is.
The driver was trying to get his dog to safety. That instinct is understandable. The outcome required two fire departments to coordinate a rescue.
Water emergencies with dogs happen faster than anyone expects. When two dogs fell into a Tempe canal with no way to climb out, the margin between safe and not was minutes, not hours.
Why This Matters
According to the National Weather Service’s flood safety guidance, just six inches of moving water can knock a person down. Twelve inches can carry away most cars. Two feet of rushing water can sweep away SUVs and trucks.
Most flood deaths in vehicles happen when drivers attempt to cross flooded roads. The water does not need to look dangerous to be dangerous.
First responders who go the extra mile for animals make a real difference. Pasadena firefighters who revived an unconscious dog inside a burning home showed the same commitment whatever it takes.
EPFD’s message after the rescue: “When people are facing some of their hardest moments, they show up. They step forward. And they do whatever it takes to bring people, and even their four-legged family members, home safely.”
Key Takeaways
- On October 1, a driver and his dog became trapped in a truck in rising floodwater in Rock Springs, Texas.
- Flooding was caused by remnants of Hurricane Polo.
- The local fire department rescued the driver. El Paso’s Water Rescue Team rescued the dog.
- Six EPFD members deployed to Central Texas with two boats and two trucks as part of Texas Task Force 1.
- Both the driver and the dog were safely rescued.
Both Made It Out
The driver made a call that put them both in danger. Two fire departments made sure it did not end the way it could have.
Have you ever had to make a fast decision about whether to drive through floodwater? Tell me in the comments and follow Furry Found on X and our Facebook page for more stories like this.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Details are based on public reports and may change.