Missouri first responders back home after two weeks helping Texas flood response

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Signs and warm hugs greeted Missouri Task Force 1 Wednesday morning, returning from a deployment in central Texas.

An 80-person team was sent to Kerr County, Texas, to help with search and rescue following deadly flooding in early July. The team was there for about two weeks working alongside other teams from all over the country as well as thousands of local volunteers.

Devastating flash flooding took more than 100 people’s lives in Kerr County, including many children staying at a sleepaway camp, Camp Mystic. Texas authorities are still searching for two missing people.

It’s clear from the bumper stickers reading “Kerr County Strong” on every Task Force vehicle and the green ribbons every returning first responder wore that this mission will stick with the group.

Branson Firefighter and Missouri Task Force 1 member Billy Wayne Kepford compared the damage to Hurricane Helene, but said the community of Texas showed up to help in a way he’s never seen before.

“There’s a lot of good-hearted people in Texas, and you really seen it there when you were working with the community because I mean everybody was out there helping,” Kepford said.

Terry Cassil with Missouri Task Force 1 and the State Emergency Management Agency got choked up thinking about the children lost to the flooding.

“We tried our best to do that and just to help them get closure in this situation, because we would want the same for our families if it was here,” Cassil said.