From the Huntley Fire Protection District:
Huntley Fire Protection District Lieutenant Returns from Texas Flood Deployment
Huntley Fire Protection District Lt. Kelly Gitzke recently returned home after deploying with MABAS Illinois
Task Force 1 to assist in the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck central Texas earlier this month.
Activated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the team was sent to support local
agencies in communities overwhelmed by record rainfall and rapidly rising rivers that resulted in the loss of more than 135 lives.
Working alongside responders from across Illinois, Lt. Gitzke served as the medical specialist for the team,
managing and coordinating medical resources while assigned to flood-damaged areas.
Lt. Gitzke is second from the left with sunglasses hanging on her shirt.
The team initially operated in Leander, Texas, located in Travis County, before moving west into heavily impacted communities throughout Kerr County.
Throughout the two-week deployment, responders faced long hours, unstable conditions, and persistent extreme heat that added to the physical demands of the mission.
“After 24 years in this profession, being able to assist people in their time of greatest need is something I
will never take lightly,” said Lt. Gitzke.
“It was hard to see the damage and heartbreak, but I’m proud of how our team supported the community and one another throughout.”
The team returned to the MABAS Readiness Center in Wheeling Saturday evening, where Lt. Gitzke and her fellow team members were welcomed by family, friends, and members of the fire service.
Her involvement reflects the broader commitment shared by departments across Illinois to step in when help is needed most.
The Huntley Fire Protection District is grateful for the collaboration, planning, and statewide support
that made the response possible and allowed MABAS Illinois Task Force 1 to carry out its mission safely
and effectively.
Even though the team has returned, the work is far from over for the devastated communities in Texas.
Recovery will take time, and the thoughts of those who responded remain with the families and first
responders who continue to face the aftermath.
