User:BCFDFF/MoTF1



Urban Search and Rescue Missouri Task Force 1 or MO-TF1 is a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force based in Boone County, Missouri. MO-TF1 is sponsored by the Boone County Fire Protection District and is designated as the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) resource for the state of Missouri.

Organization
Several distinct and specific areas make up the US&R Task Force: Search, Rescue, Medical, Logistics and Administration/Planning.

Search team
After a site is declared safe to work in by the structural specialists, this team ventures around and into the collapsed structure attempting to locate trapped victims and identify dangerous areas. The team uses electronic listening devices, extremely small search cameras with fiber-optic capability and specially trained search dogs to locate victims.

Rescue team
Once victims are located, the rescue team goes about the daunting task of breaking and cutting through literally thousands of pounds of concrete, metal and wood to reach the victims. The entry points to work areas in and around the building must be supported with wood shoring to prevent further collapse. Equipment used includes pneumatic, hydraulic and hand-powered cutting, breaching/breaking, and burning tools. Heavy riggers then interface with local crane and heavy equipment operators to remove any rubble or debris that continue to impede access. Once the trapped people are reached, they must be freed by backing them out through the hole the rescue group made to reach them.

Medical team
The medical team, composed of emergency medicine/trauma physicians, nurses and paramedics, provides the medical care for the victims and the Task Force members. They enter the dangerous interior of the collapsed structure to render aid to the victims. A completely stocked mobile emergency room is part of the Task Force equipment cache of some 16,200 items.

Logistics team
Composed of communications specialists and logistics specialists, the logistics team provides support functions for the other teams. Logistics specialists also track and maintain the over 16,000 individual pieces of equipment and supplies in the equipment cache. Communications specialists operate the extensive communications system used by the task force and.

Administration/Plans
The plans team is composed of technical information specialists, hazardous materials specialists and structural engineers. Engineers assess the potential for additional collapse, hazardous materials specialists deal with environmental conditions which may pose danger for rescue workers and the planning team managers and technical information specialists collect and analyze data and incident information so as to anticipate future work plans and task force needs. This group also assists the task force leaders with the development of the mission assignments for each operational period.

Training
Minimum requirements to be a member of MOTF-1 include: CPR certification, Emergency Medical Technician certification, and completion of a FEMA Structural Collapse Technician (SCT) course. Once these classes are completed, additional specialized training and continuing education must be completed to qualify for each individual discipline. .

Training takes place for the task force around

Member Agencies

 * Kansas City Fire Department
 * Boone County Fire Protection District
 * St. Louis City Fire Department
 * Jefferson City Fire Department
 * Mehlville Fire Department
 * Metro West Fire Protection District
 * Cooper County Fire District
 * Black Jack Fire District
 * Eureka Fire Protection District
 * Wentzville Fire Protection District
 * O'Fallon Fire Department
 * Columbia Fire Department
 * Union Fire Protection District
 * St. Charles Fire Department
 * University of Missouri Health Care

FEMA Federal Deployments

 * September 2001 New York City – World Trade Center
 * February 2003 – Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery
 * 2005 New Orleans, Louisiana – Hurricane Katrina
 * 2005 New Orleans, Louisiana – Hurricane Katrina
 * August 2007 Texas – Hurricane Dean
 * 2008 Minneapolis, Minn – Republican National Convention
 * September 2008 Texas – Hurricane Ike

SEMA State Deployments

 * June 2006 – Clinton, Mo
 * May 2008 – Newton County, Mo