The Homeland Security Investigations Tampa team jumped into action when a family near Beaumont, Texas needed help. 

Jason Pitts, a technical enforcement officer out of San Antonio, reached out to several people trying to find hlep for his parents, who live outside of Beaumont. His call for help reached SAC Tampa Group Supervisor Ritchie Flores, who is currently deployed as part of a 13 member RRT out of central and northern Florida. 

Pitts found out a local levee had failed and water was rising, so the Tampa RRT team moved quickly to the area by boat and rescued Pitt's parents and their neighbors, including two small children. 

“I won’t ever be able to thank them enough for their selfless actions, which resulted in saving numerous families,” said Pitts in an email to SAC Spero. “Without them, my parents would not have been able to get out. They deserve every ounce of praise that can be bestowed upon them."

The Tampa RRT also helped evacuate the U.S. Customs and Border Protection port director to safety after the Fannett Fire Department rescued him from his flooded home. 

This rapid response of 13 personnel, from across central and northern Florida, reflects their mission in that they are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are always prepared to deploy to an affected area within 12 to 24 hours.

“This is exactly why we have this team in place,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “A good friend told me that being part of this agency means that you have family to look out for you all over the world.”