California Regional Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces
Introduction
The California Regional Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) involves the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches. Urban search and rescue is considered a “multi-hazard” discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms and tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, mud slides, and hazardous materials releases. The events may be slow in developing, as in the case of hurricanes, or sudden, as in the case of earthquakes.
The California Regional Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces are teams of individuals comprised of firefighters, engineers, medical professionals, Haz Mat Technicians/Specialists, canine/handler teams and emergency managers with highly specialized training in urban search and rescue environments, and which serve as a resource for disaster response at local and state levels.
California Regional US&R Contact Information
Larry Collins, Deputy Chief
Special Operations & Hazardous Materials Section
Phone: (916) 845-8751
Fax: (916) 845-8396
larry.collins@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov