U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Resource: Collapse Search and Rescue Teams
Category: Search & Rescue (ESF 9)
Kind: Team
Minimum Capabilities (Component) Minimum Capabilities
(Metric)
Type I Type II Type III Type IV Other
Personnel Training and Certification

Trained to the HazMat Technician Level (NFPA 472). Comply with NFPA 1006 Technician Level requirements for their area of specialization or organization Operations Level for support personnel as outlined in NFPA 1670.

Trained to the HazMat First Responder Operational Level (NFPA 472). Comply with organization Operations Level for support personnel as outlined in NFPA 1670.

Trained to the HazMat First Responder Operational Level (NFPA 472). Comply with organization Operations Level for support personnel as outlined in NFPA 1670.

Trained to HazMat First Responder Awareness Level (NFPA 472). Comply with organization Awareness Level for support personnel as outlined in NFPA 1670.

 
Team Training

Trained for Heavy Floor Construction, Pre-cast Concrete Construction, Steel Frame Construction, High Angle Rope Rescue (including highline systems), Confined Space Rescue (permit required), and Mass Transportation Rescue.

Trained for Heavy Wall Construction, High Angle Rope Rescue (not including highline systems), Confined Space (no permit required) and Trench and Excavation Rescue.

Trained for Light Frame Construction and Low Angle Rope Rescue.

Trained for Surface Rescue and Non-Structural Entrapment in Non-Collapsed Structures.

 
Team Sustained Operations

Capable of sustained heavy operations for 18-24 hours.

Medium operations for 12-24 hours. Typically require relief for sustained 24-hour operations.

Light operations for 6-12 hours. Typically require assistance from additional team for sustained 12-hour operations.

Basic operations for 3-6 hours. Typically require assistance for sustained 6-hour operations.

 
Team Safe and Effective Response Operation Incidents

Conduct safe and effective search and rescue operations at incidents involving collapse or failure of heavy floor, pre-cast concrete, and steel frame construction.

Conduct safe and effective search and rescue operations at structural incidents involving the collapse of failure of heavy wall construction.

Conduct safe and effective search and rescue operations at structure collapse incidents involving the collapse or failure of light frame construction.

Conduct safe and effective search and rescue operations at incidents involving non-structural entrapments and minimal removal of debris and building contents.

 
Team Specialty Search and Rescue Capabilities

Conduct High Angle Rope Rescue (including highline systems), Confined Space Rescue (permit required), and extraction of entrapped victims for Mass Transportation Rescue.

Conduct High Angle Rope Rescue (not including highline systems), Confined Space Rescue, and Trench and Excavation Rescue.

Conduct Low Angle Rope Rescue.

 

 
Team Certifications

Confined space permit.

 

 

 

 
Equipment Technical Search Resources

Audible and optical search equipment to conduct technical search, shoring assortment, rebar cutters, demolition hammers, rotary hammers, reciprocating saws, hydraulic concrete breakers, hydraulic vehicle rescue system, hammer drill, chain saw, nail gun, cutting torch, assorted hand tools, generator, lights, extensions cords, hoisting slings and shackles, rope equipment (kernmantal and lifeline rope, ascenders/descenders, pulleys, tripod hauling system, carabineers) air blower, fire extinguishers, visual inspection devices, listening devices(seismic and acoustic), hand held radios.

Shoring assortment, rebar cutters, demolition hammers, rotary hammers, reciprocating saws, hydraulic concrete breakers, hydraulic vehicle rescue system, hammer drill, chain saw, nail gun, cutting torch, assorted hand tools, generator, lights, extensions cords, hoisting slings and shackles, rope equipment (kernmantal and lifeline rope, ascenders/descenders, pulleys, tripod hauling system, carabineers) air blower, fire extinguishers.

Shoring assortment, rebar cutters, demolition hammers, rotary hammers, reciprocating saws, hydraulic concrete breakers, hydraulic vehicle rescue system, hammer drill, chain saw, nail gun, cutting torch, assorted hand tools, generator, lights, extensions cords, hoisting slings and shackles, rope equipment (kernmantal and lifeline rope, ascenders/descenders, pulleys, tripod hauling system, carabineers) air blower, fire extinguishers.

Shoring assortment, rebar cutters, reciprocating saws, chain saw, assorted hand tools, generator, lights, extensions cords, air blower, fire extinguishers.

 
Breathing Apparatus Materials and Supplies

Breathing apparatus, self-contained (SCBA), respiratory protection, air bags.

Air bags.

Air bags.

 

 
Medical Equipment Materials and Supplies

Medical aid equipment, backboards, Stokes stretcher.

Medical aid equipment, backboards Stokes, stretcher.

Medical aid equipment, backboards, Stokes stretcher.

Medical aid equipment, backboards, Stokes stretcher.

 
HazMat Equipment Materials and Supplies

HazMat monitoring equipment, sampling detection kit, 4-gas meters, rad monitoring, decontamination equipment, 4-gas meter.

HazMat monitoring equipment, sampling detection kit, 4-gas meters, rad monitoring, decontamination equipment, 4-gas meter.

4-gas meter.

 

 

Comments:

A state, local, or private technical rescue team that responds to locate, rescue, and recover individuals trapped in a fallen structure or buried in structural collapse.


National Mutual Aid & Resource Management Initiative
Search and Rescue