Oklahoma Task Force 1 returns home after search mission in Texas

Oklahoma Task Force 1 is back home Monday night after spending more than two weeks in Texas helping search for victims of historic flooding.

From 160 Missing to Just Three: A Mission That Mattered

When the team arrived in Texas, 160 people were still unaccounted for. Thanks in part to their efforts, that number is now down to just three.

Assignments like these are never easy, but this is exactly what these first responders are trained to do.

Focused on Families: Working Near Hamilton, Texas

Six members of Oklahoma Task Force 1 were deployed near Hamilton. Their primary mission was to search for the missing — and to bring answers to desperate families.

Dangers of a Holiday Flood

"With it being a holiday weekend, the Guadalupe River is a very popular place for vacationers," said Matt Bell, Program Manager for OK-TF1.

"A lot of people camping in tents, a lot of people in RVs — and not getting, you know, enough time to get out before it came up."

The destruction they saw — overturned RVs, trees ripped from the ground — was a powerful reminder of how dangerous floodwaters can be.

Real-Life Hazards Require Real-Time Adaptation

Although they train extensively for disasters, Bell says real missions always come with unexpected conditions.

"We started off responding to needs for service with water rescues for the first three days, and then we transitioned over into the search and recovery phase," Bell said.

Long Days and Miles of Searching

The team worked long, exhausting days — walking riverbanks and using boats and rafts to search flooded areas.

"This team got up really early and went to bed really late and put in a lot of hard work and a lot of miles," Bell said.

Tragedy Met with Purpose

In the face of tragedy, Bell says the team stayed focused on what mattered most.

"That mission was to help bring closure to families, and that was their motivation. That's what they're trained to do."

Grateful to Be Home — Ready to Serve Again

Back in Tulsa, the team is looking forward to some much-needed rest — and to getting back to serving their community.