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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Acting swiftly and decisively, a number of Lampasas |
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County first responders worked together to rescue two children who |
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were trapped inside a cave on March 18, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, At around 5 p.m. that day, two paramedics from |
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Hamilton EMS were dispatched to a location on the Lampasas River, |
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where it was reported that a cave had collapsed with children |
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inside; the first responders on the scene, which included other |
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EMS, fire service, and law enforcement personnel, discovered that |
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the cave was on the opposite side of the river and down an |
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embankment, where the water was several feet deep; and |
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WHEREAS, The rescuers, who swam across the river to reach the |
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victims, faced the danger involved with entering a cave that had a |
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high probability of collapsing, along with the risks inherent in |
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moving critically injured children across the river to emergency |
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transport; after being safely evacuated from the cave, the two |
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children were assessed to be in stable condition and were |
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transported to area hospitals; in addition to the individuals who |
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heroically placed themselves in harm's way to save the lives of the |
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children in the cave, a number of emergency medical professionals |
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provided urgent care for the victims' injuries; and |
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WHEREAS, Assisting in the effort were paramedics Alexander |
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Haynes and Robert Metheny, EMTs Kyle Keahey and Charles |
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Vandergriff, and paramedic captain Heather Johnson of Hamilton EMS; |
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Wayland Allen, Justin Barkley, Steven Smith, Bailey Harner, |
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Jennifer Lundt, Lexis Hansen, and Chief Cornelia Green of the |
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Kempner Volunteer Fire Department; Frank Potter, Morris Wilkins, |
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and Captain Colton Baker of the Lampasas Fire Department; Jason |
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Collins, Jason Hume, and Sergeant Jerome Ervin of the Lampasas |
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County Sheriff's Office; and Aspen Walker of the Kempner Police |
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Department; and |
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WHEREAS, These exceptional men and women conducted a perilous |
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rescue operation with the utmost professionalism, efficiency, and |
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courage, and through their actions, they prevented a terrible |
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tragedy and earned the heartfelt admiration of a grateful |
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community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the first responders who went above and |
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beyond to save two children trapped inside a cave in Lampasas County |
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on March 18, 2023, and extend to them sincere appreciation for their |
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outstanding service to their fellow citizens. |