Governor Laura Kelly met with members of Kansas Task Force 1 (KS-TF1) on Wednesday to commend them for their efforts in Florida and North Carolina following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The team, made up of 36 members from 14 agencies across Kansas, played a vital role in recovery operations.

KS-TF1 was first deployed to Florida on September 24, 2024, after Hurricane Helene, then sent to North Carolina on October 1. They completed their mission and were demobilized on October 7. A second deployment followed on October 6 to assist in Florida after Hurricane Milton, wrapping up operations by October 13.

Their mission included search and rescue operations, basic medical care, transporting people and animals for further evacuation, shore- and boat-based water rescues, and setting up field hospitals. They also conducted search efforts on foot and ATVs while assisting local agencies in recovery efforts.