Caddo Sheriff’s deputies will depart at 10 p.m. tonight for Port Arthur, Texas, where they will assist with rescue efforts during Tropical Storm Harvey, said Sheriff Steve Prator.

The Louisiana Sheriff’s Association Task Force requested assistance from the CPSO on behalf of Port Arthur, which has experienced 26 inches of rain in 24 hours, according to national news reports.

“We’ve been in the starting blocks since this began ready to assist when called upon,” Prator said. “I’m proud to be sending some of the best trained Search and Rescue people in the business to assist our Texas neighbors.”

Nine Caddo deputies will make the trip: three who are assigned to the LSA Task Force; three assigned to the CPSO Marine Patrol, trained in swift water rescue; and three divers. Prator, who traveled to south Louisiana today on other sheriff's business, said he will also head to Port Arthur to help and lend support to the deputies. 

Deputies will take with them eight trucks, a sleeping trailer, a fuel supply trailer, and six flat bottom boats, including an inflatable swift water rescue boat with a 10- person capacity.

Port Arthur is a city of 51,000 residents located about 90 miles east of Houston. Port Arthur Police made an appeal for volunteers and boats to assist their emergency responders today on Facebook. Earlier today, flood waters overtook the city’s Civic Center which was serving as a shelter, and residents posted urgent pleas for rescue on social media. National news reports quoted the Port Arthur mayor as saying the whole city was underwater.

Departure tonight will be from the Sheriff’s Substation at 4910 North Market. Contact Lt. James Bonnette.