<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4Rr9Qq_0zii2R4E00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Rr9Qq_0zii2R4E00" width="1440" height="810" >Lincoln Journal StarLINCOLN, Neb. — The task force, which welcomed 13 new recruits at the end of February, helps with different situations, from tornadoes to hurricanes.Nebraska Task Force 1 responds to some of the most devastating disasters, providing life-saving recovery efforts across the country.Behind their helping hands is a tight-knit family that supports each other from one deployment to the next.Kieran Taylor, a 46-year-old firefighter from Omaha, has dreamed of joining that family since 2005, when several of his friends were deployed to Hurricane Katrina with the task force. As a firefighter of 24 years, Taylor applied four times to the task force before he was finally accepted this year.“It was an eureka moment,” Taylor said, recalling his acceptance letter. “I finally did it, this was worth it.”Taylor was among the 13 newest members sworn in at the end of February. The task force is one of 28 federal urban search and rescue teams whose members respond to a variety of emergencies and disasters.Nebraska Task Force 1 was established in 1993 with Lincoln Fire and Rescue as the sponsoring agency. Participating agencies include members from the Omaha, Papillion, Council Bluffs and Grand Island fire departments.For Taylor, the journey to the task force wasn’t easy, and he knows the work ahead will be challenging. But he’s excited to help people across the nation.“I want to say that I was a part of a bigger picture,” Taylor said. “I’m just a small little piece of what’s going on, but I’d like to say later on to my kids or grandkids that I was a part of that.”Taylor said task force members are highly regarded among firefighters.“They’re really well respected because of the aspect that they’ve taken on such a big role to not only help their own departments, but help other departments,” Taylor said.As an urban search and rescue team, Nebraska Task Force 1 serves not only the state but can also be deployed as a federal entity to assist overwhelmed communities elsewhere.“It’s like a hidden, well-known secret,” Taylor said. “We have one right here in the state of Nebraska , and it’s great to be utilized.”The task force has 165 members, each disciplined in search, rescue, medical or technical elements. Members also choose their focus from more than 70 specialized positions. Taylor, for instance, chose to specialize in hazardous materials, drawing from prior experience, but plans to expand into other search and rescue specialties.New recruit Eric Dayan , who’s from LFR Station 3, chose to specialize in logistics despite working as a paramedic for the past six years. Dayan, 30, hopes to specialize in water rescue in the future.Dayan, who served as a National Guard combat medic, is eager to be deployed with the task force because he’s never had the opportunity to be part of a state activation.“I’ve always liked the idea of those activations to help people, go out and be a part of something that helps citizens of the United States,” Dayan said.His enthusiasm is shared by many new task force members who are eager to get their boots on the ground.Lincoln firefighter Joseph Pieper, 39, said he’s excited to continue learning as a task force medic.“There’s no better feeling than helping somebody that’s in need,” Pieper said. “I’m just glad that the task force is allowing me to be a part of the team.”The task force has to be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. Over the years, they’ve responded to numerous disasters, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, hurricanes, flooding in Colorado and Nebraska, and tornadoes across the Midwest.LFR battalion chief Lloyd Mueller, one of the task force’s leaders, joined in 2003 and had his first deployment to New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina two years later. Deployments can vary in size, with the largest involving 70 members.As an incident support team member, Mueller can deploy individually or with the full task force, depending on the situation.When activated, organized “chaos” ensues as the task force has just a few hours to deploy from Lincoln.Once deployed, the task force is equipped to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours. They bring all of their own equipment, including decontamination tents, food, equipment, tools and rescue boats. The team is trained to handle nearly any obstacle, whether it’s a collapsed building or a large-scale disaster.LFR Capt. Dan Ripley, another task force leader, enjoys the unpredictability of the job.“It’s new every time, each disaster is different,” Ripley said. “We may have a standard package in how we run the incident, but the objective and the goals that we want to accomplish can be very unique, depending upon the very specific environment that we’re in or the very wide area environment we’re in.”Being in unfamiliar areas, Mueller explained, strengthens the bond within the group, adding a sense of solidarity beyond the typical emergencies they handle back home.“It’s more challenging as we go out as Nebraska Task Force than it is our home agencies, but we still look at each other as brothers and sisters, helping each other out,” Mueller said.Communication is key, not only when the group is in action, but also when they return home.“When we come back, we talk about it, we debrief. We help each other through challenging and difficult times,” Mueller said.To be deployed, members have to be with the task force for at least 60 days, stay current on training and pass both a physical and fitness test. When the new recruits eventually deploy, Ripley is eager to see their passion and enthusiasm in action.“I hope it’s just a reminder of why we’re here, why we get to do this job and that’s to help people in their time of need,” Ripley said. “I hope that they remember that our job is to run calls and help people and with this task force. It’s not just here in Lincoln, it’s everywhere.”© 2025 Lincoln Journal Star, Neb.Visit www.journalstar.com.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.</div></body>

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LINCOLN, Neb. — The task force, which welcomed 13 new recruits at the end of February, helps with different situations, from tornadoes to hurricanes. Nebraska Task Force 1 responds to some of the most devastating disasters, providing life-saving recovery efforts across the country. Behind their helping hands is a...

Neb. USAR task force welcomes new recruits

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LINCOLN, Neb. — The task force, which welcomed 13 new recruits at the end of February, helps with different situations, from tornadoes to hurricanes. Nebra

Neb. USAR task force welcomes new recruits

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