The Alameda Fire Department (AFD) currently has two firefighters deployed as part of California Task Force 4 (CA-TF4), working with Oakland Urban Search and Rescue (US&R), in flooded areas of Washington state, according to an AFD report on Facebook.
As of last week, the CA-TF4 team was operating in Kent, Washington, supporting local government agencies in areas impacted by severe flooding.
The teams conducted multiple assignments involving hasty and primary searches in residential neighborhoods affected by levee breaches and flash flooding.
More than 40 members of the Urban Search and Rescue team are deployed as part of this mission and continue to work around the clock, alongside local and federal partners to support ongoing rescue and response operations.
“Proud of the teamwork and commitment displayed by everyone involved,” the AFD report stated. “Stay tuned for more updates.”
Urban Search and Rescue involves the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces, according to the CA-TF4 website. It is considered a “multi-hazard” discipline because it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters.
All Task Force team members are trained and certified emergency medical technicians. Those positions fall into roughly four categories—search and rescue; medical; technical and logistics.
There are 28 teams across the country—one from Arizona; eight from California; one from Colorado; two from Florida; two from Virginia, and one each from Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington State.
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