WHEELING, Ill. (WLS) — A team of first responders from fire departments around Illinois, including Chicago, has returned home after spending two weeks in Texas to help with search and recovery efforts after the state was hit by catastrophic floods earlier this month.

The group was welcomed home Saturday in Wheeling.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

It’s a long-awaited homecoming for the rescue teams and their families who have been without them for the last 14 days as the crews helped with the devastation in Texas and the flood victims. All of them were so grateful to be home with lessons learned from what they saw in Texas.

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It was a warm welcome for the local firefighters.

“I feel happy that he’s back,” said Ella Gore, who welcomed her father home.

The MABAS Illinois rescue team is made up of 39 firefighters from departments all around Illinois. Many of them described the catastrophic conditions in Texas from massive flooding.

“As far as the conditions of this deployment, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Jim Loehman with the Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District. “You can’t identify it from looking at pictures and looking at videos, just what happened in Texas.”

As of Saturday, 137 deaths have been reported in Texas with two people still missing.

“It was one of the most humbling and amazing experiences I’ve had,” said Bess Vlahakis with the Park Forest Fire Department.

The team shared photos of the conditions they had to work through as they navigated difficult terrain in the Guadalupe River. It’s an experience that has put life into perspective for many of them.

“Remembering to spend time have quality moments with your loved ones because at the end of the day you don’t have control over what comes next,” a retired firefighter named Humza said.

Many loved ones embraced the team as they returned to the station Saturday in Wheeling.

“I’m really looking forward to going on the boat, probably not tonight, but having a family dinner again,” family member Charlotte Richie said.

There were signs and cheers with many hugs as the children were elated to have their parents home.

“They’re the ones really supporting us. Without them at home supporting us to be able to work the mission we’re doing, this doesn’t happen,” crew member Jim Loehman said.

The team is grateful to be back home and to get some rest and relaxation before some of them return to their local fire departments.