Nashville Deploys Tennessee Task Force 2 - Urban Search And Rescue Team To Macon County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2008
CONTACT: AMANDA SLUSS
615.880.2962 (OFFICE)
615.533.0978 (CELL)
USAR Team Specializes in Structural Collapse and Confined Space Rescue
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, upon receiving an official mutual aide request through the state, has deployed an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team task force to Lafayette, Tennessee to help search for additional storm victims.
“Macon County was ravaged by strong storms and tornadoes Tuesday night that destroyed everything in its path,” said Acting OEM Director Stephen Halford. “This is a community in need and Nashville intends to offer our full support and assistance.”
The 36-member USAR task force responding to Macon County consists of trained experts from the Nashville Fire Department, Metro Public Works, Metro Police Department, General Services Administration, Metro Water Services, a Vanderbilt University Medical Center physician and three canine teams. USAR specialists respond to structural collapse incidents using high-tech fiber optic cameras, listening devices and trained search dogs to located trapped victims. Team engineers devise plans to access trapped victims while other USAR members use concrete cutting tools, heavy equipment and rigging equipment to stabilize the structure and remove rubble.
In addition to the USAR task force, a 14-member trained damage assessment team from Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety has deployed to Macon County. Their mission is to perform damage assessments, conduct inspections of damaged structures to determine their structural and mechanical safety, and condemn uninhabitable structures. Detailed damage assessments must be done prior to restoration of utility service and/or re-occupancy.
Tennessee Task Force 2- Urban Search and Rescue Team (TN-TF 2) was established by executive order in 1995. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency authorized the designation of TN-TF 2 after the team met federal standards. Each USAR task force member is required to have standard USAR training in conjunction with his or her area of expertise. Nashville’s USAR team has trained with FEMA USAR teams across the United States.