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FEMA USAR Team
The National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System, established
under the authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1989 is a framework for structuring local emergency services
personnel into integrated disaster response task forces.
These task forces, complete with necessary tools and equipment,
and required skills and techniques, can be deployed by FEMA for
the rescue of victims of structural collapse.
A USAR team consists of seven components: Command, Search, Rescue,
Medical, HazMat, Planning, and Logistics. A manager coordinates
each of the components; the task force leader coordinates the team.
The team has a complement of live victim search canines and technical
search, coring, boring, cutting, and breaching tools. Its members
include doctors, structural engineers, riggers, technical information
specialists, hazardous materials technicians, and rescue specialist
technicians trained to NFPA 1670, Standard on Operations and Training
for Technical Rescue Incidents, 1999 edition. The task force is
a heavy rescue resource designed to add additional capability to
the local incident commander and is self-supporting for the first
72 hours of an incident.
Rescue Canine
"Cody the Search Dog"
Canine's Role
in Urban Search and Rescue
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