Missouri Task Force 1 returns after assisting in Texas flood recovery
Keriana Gamboa
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
After 16 days of doing search and recovery operations in Kerr County, Texas, Missouri Task Force 1 returned home Wednesday morning.
Throughout the deployment, the task force worked with FEMA, local emergency agencies, volunteers, and international partners to deliver vital support following one of the most severe flooding events Texas has experienced.
At least 135 people were killed in flooding that began the weekend of July 4, according to reporting from CNN. Task Force Leader Randy Sanders told ABC 17 News they went right to work the very first day.
“And I think of all the deployments I’ve been on, that was probably the saddest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Hazmat Team manager Mark Jenkins said a large number of personnel were necessary to conduct effective searches.
“Once I got there, I’ve been on the task force 24 years, and I’d have to say this is probably one of the toughest trains we’ve been on. Between the trees, the debris, the rocks, houses, everything We had to search through to be able to make access. “
Team members conducted water-based rescues, technical searches, and human remains detection operations covering more than 450 miles during their deployment, including search efforts by boat.
“So it was truly just a recovery mission, search and recovery. But I would call that search recovery and closure mission because of the work that they did,” Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said. “They were able to provide some closure to the families that were unfortunately lost in that disaster.”
He also said that despite the recent FEMA changes, the task force has not been informed of any alterations to their deployment or response procedures. Members of the team also wore ribbons in honor of Camp Mystic, a nearby girls’ camp deeply affected by the disaster.
“Our ribbons represent that. That is the color of the camps for the girls of Camp Mystic. And that was very heartfelt for us,” Sanders said.