Volunteers from Beverly FEMA Office On The Ground in Houston

BEVERLY— Massachusetts Task Force 1 members have begun their first day of rescue operations in Texas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency regional group, based out of Beverly, deployed a 16 member water rescue mission team on Sunday evening. It has been five days since Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Houston, bringing record-breaking rain and damage.

Travis McPherson, a Texas native, was driving on Interstate 20 and spotted the crew gassing up between Lindale and Winona yesterday morning at 5:30a.m.. He told Patch, "I was heading to work and saw them at a pilot gas station on FM 14 and I20 fueling up their vehicles and taking a quick break from driving I assume since they were hanging out and talking but it was definitely a heart warming sight seeing it with my own two eyes people coming from so far away to help!"

The group was assigned to the Houston SE Group for rescue and recovery, with their task to search in assigned areas for anyone needing assistance. According to FEMA, there are volunteers from all six New England states. "They [MA-TF1] arrived in Collage Station Texas at around 11:30am Tuesday morning. The team consist of a Task Force Leader, 2 Water Rescue Squad Officers, 8 Water Rescue Specialist, 1 Logistic Specialist and 2 Medical Specialist," said Dennis Levasseur, a Rescue Squad Officer with MA-TF1 to Patch. The local FEMA group deployed with four aluminum flat bottom boats, and two inflatable boats with motors.

State Senator Joan B. Lovely (D) posted her support of the team earlier this morning, saying, "I am very proud of the FEMA volunteers from Beverly who are working with rescue efforts in Texas to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. My thoughts are with all the victims of this catastrophic event, and I am grateful that we in Massachusetts can contribute to the relief efforts."

Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeted.

Photos courtesy of MA-TF1