Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces: Facts and Issues

Abstract

Since the early 1990s, Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces have been certified, trained, and funded by the federal government. Twenty-eight task forces are located in 19 states. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials may call out the task force (or forces) in closest proximity to the disaster to help locate and extricate victims from collapsed buildings and structures. The task forces represent a partnership involving federal, local government, and private sector experts. Over $100 million in federal funds have been provided in recent years to equip, train, and assist the task forces that are considered to be part of the federal emergency response network. Two bills (H.R. 88/S. 446) are pending before Congress to designate a New Jersey task force. No other legislative measures have been introduced. This report provides basic information on the task forces, presents some issues that might be addressed by Congress, and will be updated as circumstances warrant.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 24, 2006
Accession Number
ADA450424

Entities

People

  • Keith Bea

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Buildings And Structures
  • Congress
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Disasters
  • Emergency Response
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Law
  • Local Governments
  • National Governments
  • Search And Rescue
  • Security
  • Structural Engineering
  • Task Forces
  • Training
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting
  • Systems Analysis and Design