North Montgomery County Fire has started a new tradition with the first presentation of an award. The department announced the first presentation of the Office of the Fire Chief Challenge Coin on Saturday. They say the token is reserved for moments of “true distinction,” and is not handed out lightly. The coin was given to Lt. Connor Kiyokawa. The first-ever recipient of the coin, Kiyokawa, was recognized for his service in the Texas Hill Country flooding as part of Task Force 1. In the early hours on July 4, four months’ worth of rain fell in Central Texas, in an area referred to as “flash flood alley.” The Guadalupe River soon swelled far past its banks, sending a nearly 30-foot wall of water rushing down the floodplains while residents and campers slept. Summer camps, including Camp Mystic, had cabins built in and near known floodplains. Many people were killed in the floods, and long-lasting efforts to recover missing people enlisted the help of thousands of first responders and volunteers from across the nation. In the aftermath, questions were raised about warning sirens, emergency preparedness plans, and response times in the towns and camps affected by the disaster. These concerns prompted the new Texas regulations.
