Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR)’s Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Florida Task Force One (FL-TF1) has been activated as a team under the U.S. Department of State and deployed to assist in search and rescue efforts following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.

FL-TF1 is deploying as a 80-person Type I US&R Task Force, including six canine teams, to assist in the ongoing search operations.

The Type I US&R Team specializes in 19 areas, including command and control, technical search, structural assessment and stabilization, planning/technical information, advanced medical care including physicians and medical specialists, hazardous materials mitigation, tactical communications, logistics support, and safety and rescue specialists.

FL-TF1’s mission is to respond to natural and man-made disasters by providing search and rescue support, medical support, communications, damage assessment, and to coordinate the distribution of relief supplies.

They have been deployed nationally and internationally for multiple disasters, including the Oklahoma City bombing, World Trade Center collapse, Hurricane Katrina, Surfside building collapse, and earthquake responses in Colombia, Turkey, and Haiti.

MDFR’s US&R Team is set up to perform the following operations:
• Conduct physical search and rescue operations in damaged/collapsed structures.
• Provide emergency medical care at disaster sites for trapped victims and Task Force members.
• Carry out reconnaissance duties to assess damage and determine needs, then use that information to provide feedback to all agencies involved.
• Provide disaster communications support using state-of-the-art satellite systems.
• Conduct hazardous materials surveys/evaluations of affected areas.
• Assist in stabilizing damaged structures, including shoring and cribbing operations as required.

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