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SCDNR to deploy officers to FloridaSeptember 11, 2017

SCDNR Lance Cpl. Jason Smith secures his boat to the dock at Lake Murray.

Caption: Lance Cpl. Kendall Chavez, Cpt. Donnie Pritcher and Pfc. Kelsey Branham pose for some photos moments before deploying to Florida.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has requested the assistance of 50 S.C. Department of Natural Resources game wardens for the purpose of Hurricane Irma search and rescue efforts.

SCDNR officers will head to Florida Tuesday morning, where they will join game wardens from multiple fish and wildlife agencies, along with law enforcement and military, in searching rural floodwaters for survivors and conducting security patrols. They will assemble in Orlando to meet with Florida game wardens for briefing and will then head to the areas in which they are needed. Game warden assistance is requested because these men and women have experience working on the water and are skillful in navigating through flood conditions.

The duration of SCDNR officers’ stay in Florida is unknown and will be determined by the speed of recovery and ongoing needs for search and rescue, door-to-door checks, and manpower assistance.

Agreements exist between certain state agencies that, in cases of natural disasters, partnerships form and agencies assist each other with recovery efforts.

For updates on SCDNR’s search and rescue efforts, keep an eye on the SCDNR Facebook page and the SCDNR Twitter page.

DNR Media Contacts

Area Personnel Number
Coastal, Midlands David Lucas 843-610-0096
Marine Erin Weeks 843-953-9845
Upstate, Midlands Greg Lucas 864-380-5201

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