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Frequently Asked Questions | | | | |
Q: How many people make up a USAR team?
A: USAR teams are generally staffed based on their tasks and capabilities. Basic FEMA USAR assets are staffed with 62 people, add HAZ-MAT capabilities and the number grows to 68, add WMD capabilities to that and the team grows to 72. Most FEMA teams are "three deep" in other words, there are three groups of 62, 68 or 72 in a team and they rotate to be on stand-by. | | | | |
Q: Why are the USAR team's referred to as task forces?
A: Because a task force is a group made up of specially trained responders who each have their own technical field of expertise. A task force is self-contained and assigned to do a specific mission. | | | | |
Q: How is the equipment and training of IA-TF1 paid for?
A: To date, all of the equipment and training has been paid for by grants obtained by the Iowa Emergency Management Division from the Department of Homeland Security. | | | | |
Q: Will IA-TF1 become a FEMA USAR asset?
A: IA-TF1 is presently a state team and will respond only with-in the boundaries of this state unless directed by the Governor to do otherwise. However, IA-TF1 may in the future seek FEMA certification. | | | | |
Q: Why do USAR teams with high tech equipment, such as search cams and seismic detection devises, still use dogs?
A: Because specially trained search dogs have an extraordinary success rate in finding victims trapped under rubble or lost in the wilderness. Search dogs have proven themselves invaluable to USAR teams, but like people they do make mistakes. High tech equipment can be used to confirm the dogs "hit". Also the dogs require a lot of training to keep up their skills and are very logistically demanding, so not all of the teams have them.
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Q: Will the entire team that is on stand-by deploy on every call out?
A: Not necessarily, a situation may arise were only a portion of the team is needed. This will be determined by the team leader and those agencies who are requesting the team's ssistance.
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Q: What states currently have USAR teams?
A: Arizona, California (8), Colorado, Florida (2), Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New México, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia (2), and Washington State. | | |
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