Miami-Dade USAR Team Ready To Mobilize
MIAMI (CBS4) -- The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Urban Search and Rescue Team, Florida Task Force-1 (FL-TF1) is on alert and ready to go to earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan if called upon.
FL-TF1 is comprised mostly of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel and other outside specialists, as needed. They are specially trained and equipped for search and rescue in collapsed buildings. Team members are divided into specialized components including a command group, a rescue group, a search group, a medical group and a planning group. In addition, there are 9 FEMA certified canine teams.
The mission of the team is to respond to natural and man-made disasters; to provide search and rescue, medical support, communications and damage assessment.
The FL-TF1 USAR team has responded to earthquakes in Haiti, Taiwan, Turkey, Colombia, Venezuela, Philippines, Armenia, El Salvador and Mexico City. The team has also responded to other disasters around the world such as hurricanes, flooding, building explosions, and airplane crashes.
If the team is notified, it'll have a 6-hour window to mobilize its 70 search and rescue specialists to report to a prearranged departure point. The role of FL-TF1 and the other task forces is to always support state and local responders' efforts to locate victims and manage recovery operations.
Watch Web Video Extras of Disaster In Japan:
Buildings Burn In Kesennuma City Japan
Tsunami Wipes Out Entire Neighborhood In Japan
Quake Fires Spread In Miyagi
Aerials Of Tsunami Damage In Japan
Tsunami Swirling In Ocean
Oil Refinery Fire Due To Earthquake
NHK Newsroom Shakes During Quake
