When disaster struck, many Texans discovered Sunday they had to be their own first responders. The government could help, but only to a point.
Police officers and firefighters rescued many people from floodwaters. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, said Sunday that thousands of state and national guardsman, 20 helicopters, 60 boats and high-water vehicles had been deployed, and he declared that citizens should know “that the cavalry is coming.”
But the professional first responders could not handle each of the thousands of calls from people in distress from rising water. The roads were largely impassable. Residents reported calling 911 and getting no answer.