Fire & Rescue NSW Urban Search & Rescue Category 1

PART 6:
DISASTERS

USAR TASK FORCES

A USAR Task Force is assembled centrally and deployed as a group to an incident. As a result the Task Force will be on site after Cat 1 teams have been at work for some time.

Once on site, the USAR Task Force is issued taskings by the local authorities. A USAR Task Force is usually assigned to a sector to undertake operations.

They may be self sufficient if required. USAR Task Forces can be assembled in various configurations, depending on the situation:

USAR team category:	Light	Medium	Heavy
Personnel	<30	30 to 60	>60
Capabilities	Basic or minimal in terms of rescue equipment, knowledge and competencies Able to assist with the surface search and rescue of victims in the immediate aftermath of a sudden-onset structural collapse disaster.	Conduct complex technical search and rescue operations in collapsed or failed structures of heavy wood and/or reinforced masonry construction, including structures reinforced and/or built with structural steel. Conduct rigging and lifting operations. Work only at one worksite.	Complex technical search and rescue operations in collapsed or failed structures, particularly those involving structures reinforced and/or built with structural steel. Conduct rigging and lifting operations. Expected to have the equipment and personnel to work in a technical capacity at two work sites simultaneously.
Deployment	Local only	Local Interstate International	Local Interstate International

Example of a Heavy USAR team configuration: