Urban Search and Rescue
Nashville, Tennessee
History of USAR in Nashville
Executive Order 95-03 directed the Office of Emergency Management to establish a multi-department Urban Search and Rescue Task Force for the City of Nashville. After meeting federal standards in April 2000, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency authorized the designation of Tennessee Task Force 2 (TN TF-2).
What is USAR in Nashville?
USAR builds on the established rescue capabilities of the Nashville Fire Department, by adding engineers, heavy equipment operators, rigging specialists, chemists, search dogs, and evidence preservation specialists to support the first responders at structural collapse incidents.
Over 62 specialists from several Metro departments, utilize their expertise and specialized equipment in response to structural collapse. High tech fiber-optic cameras, listening devices and trained search dogs locate trapped persons. Engineers are utilized to devise plans to access trapped persons. Concrete cutting tools, heavy equipment and rigging are then used to stabilize the structure and remove rubble enabling Fire and EMS personnel to rescue the victims.
How does it work?
Upon notification of a structural collapse, OEM places the task force on standby, while trained personnel from the Fire department make the initial response. They will assess the situation and call for the activation of the rest of the task force. Once assembled at the scene, the task force will operate under the operations section of the Incident Command System.
Can the Task Force be sent to other counties?
Yes, if OEM receives a request from a neighboring county or the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, OEM will review the request with the Mayor. If authorized, the task force will be deployed to the requesting county. The task force will report to a designated area and come under the direction of the on scene incident commander. (The task force is not available for national deployment at this time.)
What type of training does the Task Force have?
Each USAR task force member is required to have standard USAR training in conjunction with his or her individual expertise. The standard training includes NFPA 1470, FEMA’s Rescue Systems One as well as ICS, Trench Collapse, Haz-Mat First Responder, and CPR.
Nashville goes beyond standards!
The task force has been involved in several hands on exercises of collapsed structures. In fact, the task force has conducted joint training with FEMA USAR task force members from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and New York.
Building Partnerships through team work
- Office of Emergency Management
- Metro Fire Department
- Metro Police Department
- Public Works
- Metro Water Services
- General Service Administration
- Information System Division