Czech firefighters in Texas greeted with kolaches: 'At a loss for words'

When Czech firefighters arrived in flood-stricken Texas this month, they expected grueling search and rescue missions, not homemade kolaches and sausage. But that’s exactly what awaited them, courtesy of Czech-American communities who traveled hundreds of kilometers to thank the visiting Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team for their efforts.

The firefighters are assisting local crews following devastating floods that left over 130 people dead and more than 160 missing. Their arrival stirred a strong emotional response among "Czexans"—descendants of 19th-century Czech immigrants—who quickly stepped in with comfort food and cultural support.

The Czech USAR team landed in Texas in mid-July to assist with flood response operations along the Guadalupe River and other hard-hit regions. Equipped with drones and rescue dogs, they joined local and federal agencies in searching for missing persons, often under extreme conditions.

Their work did not go unnoticed. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Air Force General Steven Nordhaus personally visited the team in Kerrville to express thanks. “Texas and the Czech Republic have been partners since 1993, and it’s an amazing partnership,” Nordhaus said during a meeting at the Kerrville airport.

This mission marks a continuation of that collaboration. Last year, when flooding struck the Ostrava region in Czechia, the Texas National Guard redirected its MQ-9 Reaper drone to assist with aerial assessments of damaged areas.

Now, Czech firefighters are returning the favor, underscoring a unique international relationship built not only on treaties, but also on solidarity in times of crisis.

The rescue teams have faced difficult choices, even altering tactics to protect their working dogs from heat stress during extended missions. Still, the Czech team has remained committed to its work. “We’re here to help in any way we can,” one team member wrote on social media.

Perhaps the most unexpected element of the mission has been the emotional reception from Texas’s Czech-American population. Known as Czexans, these communities, estimated at around 200,000 strong, trace their roots to settlers who emigrated from Bohemia and Moravia in the 19th century.

Many still maintain cultural traditions, speak Czech, and run businesses with Czech names. These ties became personal when community members drove over 700 kilometers to bring the firefighters a traditional dinner of sausages and kolaches. 

“Sausage and kolaches. For some, just food. For us, a reminder of home and why we’re here,” the team wrote in a post accompanied by photos of the homemade meal.

The gesture left a deep impression. “From the beginning of our mission, they’ve been in touch with us. Now they’ve made us a wonderful dinner. Even hardened firefighters are at a loss for words,” read one statement from the team.

The sense of familiarity didn’t end with the food. The rescuers reported hearing Czech greetings like "Jak se máš?" from locals and spotting bakeries with Czech signage. “In many ways, it feels like home here,” they noted.

Czech President Petr Pavel visited the region last year and praised the Czexans for preserving their heritage. That same spirit now surrounds the Czech USAR team as they continue their work in Texas—bolstered not only by official gratitude, but by the quiet reassurance of shared roots.