After three weeks of search and rescue operations in Central Texas, emergency response specialists from Southern Nevada have finally returned home.
47 members of Nevada Task Force 1, including four K9s, arrived at their North Las Vegas facility to an emotional homecoming from friends and family.
The specialized team was deployed to Kerr County, Texas on July 8 to assist in search and recovery efforts following the catastrophic flooding that occurred over Independence Day weekend.
"There was debris everywhere, homes that had been destroyed, vehicles that had been destroyed, and just piles of materials from homes and trees that had all been washed into various sections of the river," shares Matthew Gordon, Task Force Leader of Nevada Task Force 1.
He admits it was hard to grasp the devastation until witnessing it first-hand. But all of the first responders and volunteers made quick progress in cleaning up debris.
"The progress was clear day-to-day," said Matthew. "You could see the piles of debris getting smaller, and the areas we searched, grew day by day. Just seeing the impact of our work was impressive."
Matthew also praised the welcome and resilience of the residents
"All of the residents were so accommodating and appreciative of us being here, and they wanted to help us when in fact they were the ones who had suffered a loss," he said. "It was just remarkable to see that human spirit. Whenever there's a disaster like this, you need to see how it brings the community together."
Nevada Task Force 1 consists of trained first responders from multiple agencies across Southern Nevada. The team includes paramedics, structural engineers, and other specialists.
Finally back home, the team is getting some much deserved rest, refreshing and restocking their gear, and will be ready to answer the next call.