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When major disasters happen, US&R Task Forces rapidly
respond. The priorities of the Structures Specialist (StS) are:
• Reduce the risk of further collapse to responders and victims by hazard mitigation.
• Provide monitoring of damaged building structures
• Support to heavy equipment and rigging operations.
• Create egress and safe havens for rescuers and victims throughout rescue operations.
• Advise Incident Commander of the various risks with regards to proposed rescue operations.
Above: Oklahoma City, Structure Specialist Duties Left: New York, Monitoring, mitigation, augmentation of FEMA US&R Task Forces
Who We've Trained: • All DHS/FEMA US&R Structures Specialists.
• All USACE US&R Structures Specialists.
• State and Regional US&R Structures Specialists.
• International US&R Structures Specialists.
• Military (911th Technical Rescue Engineering Co., Marine CB/RF, General Purpose "Troops") and Horizontal and Vertical Engineering companies.
• US&R Participants at the National Level Exercises.
• Participants of Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (DREE), numerous in Southeast Asia.
• Eastern European Multi-National Exercise participants.
Points of Contact: Thomas R. Niedernhofer, P.E.
Ph: (415) 503-6616 [email protected]
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Urban Search and Rescue Program Structures Specialists Cadre
Provide expert technical advice and support for Commanders, Troops and Task
Force Leaders during collapse incidents and disaster response mission by
rescue-trained Structural Engineers.
[l','l"i','11 US Mmy Co•ps of Engineera 1 1 I 1 1 • South Pacific Division
BUILDING STRONG and Taking Care of People!
The USACE US&R Program • Deploys specially trained and equipped Structural Engineers or "Structures Specilaist" (StS) to augment the DHSIFEMA US&R Task Forces and Incident Support Teams, Military Technical Rescue entities, and General Purpose Troops during structural collapse incidents and other life saving disaster response missions.
• This "rescue engineering" capability provides technical support and advice to Task Force Leaders and Military Commanders to assess damage, mitigate hazards, enable safe entry, and assure mobility throughout a disaster site to enable rescue and lifesaving operations.
• Responsible for developing doctrine, training programs, and national standards for structural collapse response operations, conducts initial training courses, advanced coursework, exercises and continuing education for all DHSIFEMA US&R Structures Specialists and other organizations requiring this capability.
• Maintains specialized, pre-positioned, deployable Equipment Caches to support US&R/Disaster Response operations.
Description of Duties The Structures Specialist is responsible for:
• Assessing the immediate structural condition of the affected area of Task Force operations, which includes identifying structure types, specific damage and structural hazards.
• Recommending the appropriate type and amount of structural hazard mitigation in order to minimize risks on site to task force personnel.
• Cooperating with and assisting other search and rescue resources.
• Monitoring assigned structures for condition changes while rescue and recovery operations are proceeding.
• Assuming an active role in implementing approved structural hazard mitigation as a designer, inspector, and possibly a supervisor.
Additional Mission Capabilities • Provides Structures Specialist and Structure Collapse training for the Military.
• Participates in training and mobilization exercises.
• Provides technical support to FBI, DEA, ATF, NIST, and other Federal Agencies during responses.
• Provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions regarding rescue missions.
• Engages in International responses and exercises when requested.
Where we are: • The StS Cadre consists of Engineers from multiple Divisions, Districts, Labs, and HQ. The StS are divided into three Strike Teams (Red, White, and Blue) that maintain on-call readiness.
• The Cadre maintains three prepositioned Structures Specialists equipment caches in the eastern, central and western regions of the United States to enable rapid deployment to support life saving operations.
Field Operations Guide (FOG)
Where We've Been: The USACE Urban Search and Rescue Program was launched as a result of lessons learned in 1985 during U.S. assistance to the Great Mexico City Earthquake, and the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. These earthquakes served as a "wakeup call" to the threats structural collapse poses to responders and victims. The USA CE StS Cadre has responded to events such as: • Coordinating and communicating the fl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~!!!!!!
structural related hazard mitigation with /ST Structural Unit Leader.
.-~=="':!':'~:""':== North Ridge Earth Quake, CA - 1994
• Accountability, maintenance, and minor repairs for all issued equipment.
• Adhering to all safety procedures.
Oklahoma City Bombing, OK - 1995
World Trade Center 9111, NY- 2001
Berkman Parking Garage Collapse, 2007
Haiti Earthquake, 2010
New Zealand Christ Church Earthquake, 2011
Numerous Hurricanes, CONUS 2006- 2013
National Special Security Events (NSSE)
