Nebraska Task Force 1 chief gives update on Florida condo collapse

Chief Brad Thavenet of Nebraska Task Force 1 says he arrived in Florida on Monday. Ever since, he and his team have been working tirelessly to rescue as many people as possible.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – First responders from all over the country have gathered in Florida to help rescue missing people after the collapse of a condo building

Chief Brad Thavenet of Nebraska Task Force 1 says he arrived in Florida on Monday. Ever since, he and his team have been working tirelessly to rescue as many people trapped in the debris of the fallen Champlain Towers condo building as possible.

“It’s kind of like Groundhog Day,” Thavenet said. “You kind of start it, and then the next thing you know, eight hours has just transpired.”

Travenet’s role with the rescue operation is to help Miami-Dade Fire Rescue manage logistical needs to make every operational period as seamless and efficient as possible.

“As we bring in federal task forces, obviously the local authorities are becoming overwhelmed with how to manage the amount of resources that are coming in and so they requested a command element to come in and assist with that,” Travenet explained.

Rescuers work in twelve hour shifts – either midnight to noon or noon to midnight – with over 200 working on the pile of debris at one given time.

Thavenet says that rescue crews are utilizing drones, 3D mapping, and targeted searches in an effort to save as many people as possible.

“I think as they work through their ‘unaccounted for’ list, there is, in my opinion, a high probability that the goal and the leader’s intent will be met,” he said.