Austin County Emergency Medical Service

08/28/2025

🚨 Lengthy Read Alert 🚨

We want to take a moment to acknowledge the pause in our updates and posts over the last several weeks. During this time, our crews including myself were heavily engaged in the Kerr County deployment, and our focus was on providing care and support where it was needed most and recovery after returning home.

This deployment was one of the most challenging we’ve faced in recent years. The long hours and emotional toll reminded us of the very real effects of burnout in EMS. It also reinforced the strength and resilience that come from working together as a team. After returning home, some extra time with family was needed before resuming updates here.

While the experience was heartbreaking in many ways, it also highlighted the dedication of our personnel and the incredible support of the EMS community across Texas.

Here’s a quick summary of the deployment after our last update:

📅 On 7/30/2025, B Shift Captain Kalmbach and In-Charge Paramedic Hinds relieved Assistant Chief Rhonda Ritchey and myself on EMTF Unit 6-24 in Kerr County after 12 days of deployment.
🩺 Their assignments varied daily, from providing medical standby at staging areas to supporting dive teams and search and rescue operations.
🚑 EMTF Unit 6-24 was officially demobilized on 8/9/2025 to reduce the operational footprint, allowing Kalmbach and Hinds to return home after 10 days.

In total, Austin County EMS dedicated an ambulance to this tragic incident for 29 consecutive days (7/12 through 8/9), covered by three different crews.

Although this event was devastating, it was inspiring to see hope, prayer, resources, volunteers, and the people of Texas come together to help their neighbors in need. While our unit is no longer operating in Kerrville, our thoughts and prayers remain with the communities forever changed by this tragedy. 💙

🙏 We want to extend our sincere gratitude to all the volunteers, the countless donations, and to SETRAC and Texas Emergency Medical Task Force Region 6 for deploying us. Most of all, thank you to the Austin County community for supporting us and allowing our crews to serve our neighbors in their time of greatest need.

Together, we are

08/20/2025

The class is $45 a person.

Hey everyone. We would like to invite you to join our CPR class on September 20th. we had such a great turn out in July, we would like to break that record See the flyer for details and Call to reserve your spot before September 18Th. The cost of the class is $45 a person. Hope to see you there.

07/29/2025

🚨 Training Opportunity Alert! 🚨
Austin County EMS is proud to host the Tim Phalen 12/15 Lead ECG Class, and you’re invited!

This is your chance to learn from nationally recognized ECG & STEMI expert Tim Phalen in a high-impact, hands-on course covering:

✅ 12 & 15-lead ECG interpretation
✅ STEMI recognition and detection
✅ Capnography application in the field

🗓 Two Date Options (Choose One!):
📍 Monday, August 4th | 9 AM – 3 PM | 939 Tiger Ln, Sealy, TX 77474
📍 Tuesday, August 5th | 9 AM – 3 PM | 12440 Eagle Pointe Dr, Mont Belvieu, TX 77523

✨ CE credit opportunities available
✨ Lunch and refreshments provided
✨ Network with other EMS professionals from across the region

REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND! 💪
Scan the QR code on the flyer or reach out to your local Stryker representative to save your spot!

Special thanks to Mont Belvieu Fire Department and our very own Austin County EMS crews for making this possible. Let’s elevate our care together!

07/25/2025

It has come to our attention that Fort Bend County EMS has lost one of their own. Our thoughts and prayers are with Shawn and his family, and for Fort Bend EMS as they grieve this heavy loss. Rest easy Shawn.

Fort Bend County EMS is saddened to announce the death of Paramedic Shawn Wimmer in an off-duty traffic incident. We are in contact with Shawn’s family and our hearts grieve for them. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers in the coming days & weeks. Funeral arrangements are pending.

07/24/2025

🚨 Deployment Update - Day 11 and 12 (07/23/25-07/24/25)

ACEMS 6-24 with Texas Emergency Medical Task Force Region 6 is still on deployment. SAR and dive teams still work tirelessly to locate the remaining persons from this heartbreaking disaster.

Yesterday and today, ACEMS 6-24 is teamed up with Northwest Community Health to help provide medical support to the SAR and Dive teams in strategic locations.

07/22/2025

🚨 Deployment Update - Day 9 & 10 (07/21/25-07/22/25)

Austin County unit 6-24 of the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force Region 6 is still deployed in Kerr County. On Day 8 6-24 completed another day with College Station Fire Department, TIFMAS crew 1009 at Mountain Home to assist them with whatever they needed. Whether it be running calls, cleaning, or moving equipment it did not matter, we are here to serve.

Today 6-24 held at staging. This gave our crew the opportunity to do some house keeping on the truck and to ensure it was in tip top shape to continue the mission!

07/21/2025

🚨 Deployment Update - Day 8 (07/20/2025) (Yesterday)

Yesterday, ACEMS 6-24 of Texas Emergency Medical Task Force Region 6 was assigned to Mountain Home VFD, attached to TIFMAS Crew 1009 and our great new friends with College Station Fire Department! Here we helped TIFMAS cover fire calls if needed, and have ALS medical support to the area if needed. Thankfully, that type of support was not utilized! Instead we spent our time helping Mountain home return to somewhat of a normal operating life. Sifting through and organizing all of the wonderful donations, cleaning, and moving equipment was hard work! But we are here to serve and it’s amazing to see people from Texas, and beyond come together!

07/19/2025

Law enforcement is looking for a suspect in the lazy river area in Austin County

07/19/2025

🚨 Deployment Update - Day 7 (7/19/2025)

Today we welcome home Captain Justin Ward and AEMT Chloe Levay, who have completed their deployment assignment with the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force Region 6 in Kerrville. We are incredibly proud of the professionalism, dedication, and compassion they demonstrated while representing both Austin County EMS and our community. Thank you both for your outstanding service!

Stepping in to continue the mission are Assistant Chief Rhonda Ritchey and In-Charge Paramedic JJ Bautista. They will be staffing AST 6-24 and standing by, ready to respond to any assignment that comes their way.

For now, the team remains staged and prepared. We’ll continue to provide updates.Thank you all for your continued support of our crews serving in this critical response effort.

07/19/2025

🚨 Deployment Update -Day 6 - 7/18/25

Today, ACEMS Medic 22, operating as AST-6-24 with Texas Emergency Medical Task Force Region 6, received new orders for Mountain Home, Texas. Our mission: provide relief and medical standby.

Partnered with a TIFMAS crew (College Station Fire Department), this area was in good hands.

Medic 22 also got to visit Camp Mystic. Debris, destruction, and the raw power of nature are visible in every direction. Despite the heartbreak, there’s still a sense of hope. Communities are coming together, and while the work ahead is daunting, it’s far from over.

We remain committed to supporting the response teams and the affected communities as long as we’re needed.

07/17/2025

🚨 Deployment Update - Day 5 (717/25)

This morning, ACEMS Medic 22, serving with AST-6-24 of the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force Region 6 , received a new assignment. Our team is now assisting TIFMAS crews by providing 911 coverage in the area and standing by as medical support for the first responders actively working the river.

Speaking of those first responders, did you know that several of our very own EMTs and Paramedics have volunteered their personal time to aid in this tragic event, outside of the official deployment? Their dedication speaks volumes, and we are incredibly proud of them.

Those who’ve stepped up on their own time include:

- B Shift Captain Chris Kalmbach, EMT-P
- In-Charge Paramedic Cole Taylor
- Attending EMT Chris Villarreal
- C Shift Captain Gary Stansbury EMT-P

EMT Chris Villarreal (pictured below) is currently stationed in Hunt, Texas, working alongside a volunteer group called Task Force Redeem performing swift water search operations. Chris has not been home in 13 days, splitting his time between volunteering and his regular shifts at ACEMS, a true testament to his heart for service.

Paramedic Cole Taylor also felt the call to serve. He took his horses to Ingram Tx and other flood-impacted areas, helping with search and rescue in rugged, hard-to-reach terrain. Cole plans to return soon to continue aiding the mission with his chain saw.

Captain Kalmbach joined Centerpoint Volunteer Fire Department, providing medical support to search teams working in the field.

Captain Stansbury volunteered his time as a part of a chainsaw crew for approximately 2 days. Captain Stansbury plans on returning soon to Ingram to assist again.

We are deeply thankful to these dedicated professionals for their compassion, sacrifice, and relentless commitment to service. You each represent the very best of ACEMS and our community.

We stand proud to serve, proud to support, and proud of our people.