O'FALLON, Mo. — Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1) members were greeted with signs and hugs from their families on Friday.
A group applauded as trucks pulled into the Boone County Fire Department, returning from the longest deployment the group has ever experienced.
Activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), team leader Randy Sanders and the rest of MO-TF1 spent two weeks in the Southeast working to help out in recovery after not one but two destructive storms: Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The team included a Type III 45-member Task Force, a 16-member Water Rescue Mission Ready Package (MRP-WR), seven Human Remains Detection (HRD) K-9s, and eight Incident Support Team members.
"It was a tough deployment. We were glad to be home. We actually used just about all of our equipment this time. We had boats. We used helicopters. We did structural collapse. We ground pounded along the rivers and creeks," Sanders described.
The group originally traveled to assist in Hurricane Helene cleanup but extended their stay when Hurricane Milton came rushing behind.
More than 270 people lost their lives between both storms and there's billions of dollars in property damage.
Sanders said cleanup and recovery efforts had been no easy task.
"There was large debris piles. There was flood areas. Buildings were collapsed. It was very difficult to get around because bridges were out," he added.
'It's very heartfelt to talk to these people that lost everything. And have nothing. We give them the best that we can give them. You know we give them food, we give them MREs and we send them to a place they can get recovery."
The crew has access to mental health support services while on deployment and once they return home if needed.
"I put my guys in harm's way. They did the very best that they could. They were safe. It was dangerous conditions and I was certainly happy to get them home safely," Sanders added.
MO-TF1 is managed by the Boone County Fire Protection District, and is one of 28 Urban Search and Rescue teams in the United States.