CHANTILLY, Va. -
Two white buses pulled up to the sound of kids cheering. They held signs that say things like "Welcome home, Daddy!" They are marching back home from a place that might have felt a little like a war zone.
"We were faced with a lot of elderly people that just simply could not get out of their houses, pregnant females, situations like that," says Rodney Vaughan.
The Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue team arrived in New Jersey before Sandy hit and waited out the storm.
"It's always rewarding to be able to help people - especially when they're truly in need," says Paul Ruwe, one of two task force leaders. "We go out the door for this type of deployment with an 80-person team that ranges from primarily rescue specialists. We have four K-9 handlers and four dogs on the team. We have two doctors."
A levee had broken - flooding Little Ferry, New Jersey. 10,000 people were affected. Many were stranded in their homes and grateful for help.
The firefighters' work put them in contaminated water and when power was restored, some houses caught on fire.
Families are proud and relieved to have the team back home in Virginia on Tuesday. This crew that has helped the nation on some of its lowest days is always glad to see neighbors helping neighbors.
"That's the moral of the story," says Mike Davis. "When stuff like that happens in America, we're going to help other people, but we're going to help ourselves. That's what I saw and that's what renews me as we go forward."
