Burnet County officials are continuing to search for Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips, who has been missing in floodwaters since Saturday.
BURNET COUNTY, Texas — Burnet County emergency response officials are still searching for Fire Chief Michael Phillips of the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department after he was swept away by floodwaters while responding to an emergency call in Cow Creek, Travis County, officials said Monday.
Phillips, who went missing early Saturday, was last seen driving an emergency vehicle during a rescue operation amid severe flooding that has devastated Central Texas. The vehicle was located, but Phillips was not found with it, prompting an extensive search by local authorities and emergency responders.
Phillips – who has volunteered as fire chief since 1995, according to his Facebook profile – was responding to a call related to the same weather event that has killed dozens of people across Central Texas.
Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd said in a media briefing on Monday that crews are committed to continuing their search until the missing are found.
Search teams had been combing areas of Burnet County to search for two people who are missing, including Chief Phillips, after floodwaters swept through the region over the weekend. Search efforts have been exacerbated by continuing rainfall that has damaged roads and made it difficult for search parties to canvas low-lying areas around the area.
Officials said that some search methods, like searching by horseback or by ATV, are still not feasible due to the rainfall. Some low water crossings and bridges will still need to be repaired before all areas in the county are accessible to emergency crews.
Burnet County officials are asking that residents assist in doing damage assessments of both public and private infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of receiving assistance for rebuilding efforts.
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