Nebraska Task Force One returns home after heroic efforts in Arkansas

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska Task Force One members were greeted with hugs and smiles Friday as they returned home from a nine-day mission in Arkansas.

The team was helping towns recover after deadly storms swept through.

Many people were stranded in dangerous floodwaters and had to be saved, according to team leader Capt. Dan Ripley.

“We’ve had flood events, we’ve had hurricanes, we’ve been to different places,” he said. “But the sheer gravity, the geographical span of these floods were something that we’ve probably never seen before.”

The team consisted of 45 people and two dogs.

Ripley said a structural engineer came along, assisting towns with their levees.

A hazardous materials team helped pull propane tanks out of the water, stopping them before they could create another disaster.

Ripley said that this was a unique trip and that the team was glad to help those who needed it.

He said the communities were incredibly thankful for the assistance.

Though the team members are glad to be home, Ripley said they will never hesitate to pack up and leave if it means making a difference.

“We leave our homes here, our families here,” he said. “And by the time we left the area where we served, we had new friends and new family members.”