HOUSTON - Immediately following the earthquake in Haiti, experts from Texas Task Force 1 got together with members of the 147th Reconnaissance Wing of the Texas Air National Guard to work on a transportation plan.
Pallet after pallet of equipment started arriving here at Ellington Field as TX-TF1 team members and Airmen worked through the night to get the equipment palletized for air transport.
TX-TF 1 has deployed more than 70 times since 1997, including the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Sept 11th World Trade Center attack, and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike.
During many of these missions, they worked with members of the Texas Military Forces, including Airmen assigned to the 147th RW.
Crew chiefs and loadmasters from the 147th are experts in loading equipment and people on military aircraft for a quick response airlift into a disaster area, and TX-TF1 has become the go-to team for search and rescue.
The secret to success for both teams is regularly scheduled joint training, Guard officials said.
The TX-TF1 team routinely partners with the Texas National Guard to conduct swift water rescue and urban search and rescue training. It is only because of this intense training that the teams are able to speak the same language during a crisis and have one common focus, which is to help those who cannot help themselves as quickly and efficiently as possible.