UCI Diver Dale Hammon accepts a donation check from Shayla Angellone and her child Azaniah of the Living Well Church for his and a team of divers to assist in the recovery efforts in Kerrville Texas. (Submitted photo)

Dale Hammon a UCI (Underwater criminal investigator) certified diver, from East Liverpool left early today with his nephew Nate Payne of Struthers to be part of the search and recovery efforts for victims missing in the flooding in Kerrville, Texas. They will be picking up four to six more divers on their way from the Columbus area.

According to Hammon, a UCI diver specializes in black water dives or dives where there is no visibility.

Hammon said he is a member of the Columbiana County Emergency Response Team, which has not yet had a need to call him out.

Hammon said he has been diving for 25 years and has been involved in search and recovery efforts in Florida and North Carolina.

“We normally go to these disasters when something really bad happens,” Hammon said.

Hammon noted that he is self-funding the trip and has received assistance from The Living Well Church in Wellsville. Church member Tony Beliscia started a fundraising drive and the church matched what she raised. He has reached out to other churches for assistance.

He said it’s costly to make the 22-hour drive hauling equipment, plus having to pay for meals and accommodations.

He is seeking help from anyone who wants to help fund the trip for which they are going to try to locate the missing kids.

“There are 80 people unaccounted for and they are all important, but it’s a little tougher when you got kids missing,” Hammon said.

Hammon also does not know where the team will be located. He said the river they are searching runs to the ocean. They will find out where they will be stationed once they arrive and connect with Kerrville Fire and Rescue.

Hammon said that the waters are starting to recede and they should start finding bodies and at this point it was probably going to a recovery effort instead of rescue.

The team currently has $3,500 to cover expenses for the trip.

Anyone interested in making a donation can go to the Calcutta Dollar Tree and ask for Dawn. They just need to tell her they want to make a donation for the rescue team and she will deposit it into the dive team expense account. Donations can also be made at Westbanco by telling someone at the bank they are helping with the recovery effort in Kerrville and would like to donate money to Willis Dale Hammon.

Hammon reached out to Calcutta Volunteer Fire Chief Dave McCoy to see if the search and rescue team was able to team up with them.

McCoy said there is a need for cadaver dogs there currently and there has been an overwhelming response for them.

McCoy said he talked to rescue/recovery organizers last night to let them know they were available to assist with K9 Solace who is trained in search and rescue/recovery and as a cadaver dog and he also let them know the swift water rescue team could deploy as well.

McCoy said he was told by rescue organizers to be on standby and they would reach out if needed.