How a 911 Center in New Jersey Just Helped Rescue Two People in Texas

KINGWOOD — An apparent bad internet search led to a New Jersey 911 center helping to rescue two people trapped in a Texas attic by Harvey's heavy rain.

An email was received by a member of the Kingwood, New Jersey Rescue Squad around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday seeking help to escape the rising water in Kingwood, Texas. The member brought the message to the attention of Hunterdon County safety technicians Tammy Hoffman, Ed Hahola and Katie Powell, and located the Texas Kingwood as being in Harris County, north of Houston.

They called the Harris County Sheriff's Department, which said it would add the pair to their rescue list, but then moved them to the top of the list after realizing the seriousness of their situation. Within an hour, the pair was rescued.

The technicians speculate that the couple got information for Kingwood, New Jersey when they did an internet search.

The two Kingwoods are more than 1,500 miles apart.

"Due to the quick thinking of the Kingwood first-responder and our 9-1-1 Center technicians, two additional lives have been saved in Texas, Hunterdon County Freeholder John Lanza said.

Kingwoo, Texas received 16 inches of rain from Harvey.