The Arizona Task Force 1 (AZ-TF1), a FEMA urban search and rescue team, has concluded its flood relief efforts in Kerrville, Texas, and returned home to Arizona. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the 49-member team, which includes five canine units, spent nearly a month assisting with recovery from devastating flooding that hit Central Texas. They were received by their families on Sunday evening with cheer, balloons, and homemade signs.
Arizona Task Force 1 was deployed on July 8 and returned on July 27 after 20 days of assisting with flood relief efforts. Task Force Leader Jason Rideout, in a statement to FOX 10 Phoenix, acknowledged the challenges of being away from family while providing emergency support in Central Texas. During their deployment, AZ-TF1 covered extensive ground. "Our whole goal was no stone unturned as we were searching the river," Rideout said, detailing their efforts that spanned over 12 and a half miles of riverbank on both sides. The mission involved wide-area searches, structural assessments, and coordinating closely with both federal and local agencies, as they faced the grim reality of over 150 people reported missing.
Task Force Leader Jason Rideout told FOX 10 Phoenix that responding to the disaster had a strong personal impact, saying, "We're all part of the community … going to a decimated community like that was huge for us." The team initially slept in tents and worked long hours as they carried out search and rescue operations.
Local news outlet ABC15 documented the return of the Arizona Task Force 1 to Phoenix after nearly three weeks assisting with relief efforts following deadly flash flooding that claimed over 100 lives. The task force conducted extensive searches across thousands of acres and miles of riverbank to find missing individuals. ABC15’s coverage includes video footage of the team’s reunions with family members.
