Urban Search and Rescue Arizona Task Force 1
Encyclopedia
Urban Search and Rescue Arizona Task Force 1 or AZ-TF1 is a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force
based in Phoenix, Arizona
. AZ-TF1 is sponsored by the Phoenix Fire Department
.
AZ-TF1 is one of six Task Forces that is Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) certified having received extensive training in responding to incidents involving chemical
, biological
or radiological agents
.
AZ-TF1 is the only Task Force allowed to be accompanied by armed police officers. The Task Force was suspended during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and sent home because of a violation of rules allowing a Task Force to carry firearms. Upon review, it was determined that all of the Phoenix Police Department
has been cross-certified as United States Marshals
. In addition, a FEMA Division Supervisor authorized the Task Force to bring the Marshals with them to provide protection from armed looters, persons wearing stolen police uniforms and alligators. FEMA lifted the suspension and currently allows the armed Phoenix officers to accompany the Task Force to provide protection as long as the officers wear a U.S. Marhals' uniform. The policy is under review for possible expansion to the other FEMA Task Forces.
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force
thumb|Members of FEMA US&R Task Force at [[World Trade Center]] after the 9/11 attacks.A FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force is a team of individuals specializing in urban search and rescue, disaster recovery, and emergency triage and medicine. The teams are deployed to emergency and disaster...
based in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. AZ-TF1 is sponsored by the Phoenix Fire Department
Phoenix Fire Department
The Phoenix Fire Department is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Phoenix. The Phoenix Fire Department responded to 148,673 incidents during 2010, with 88% being for emergency medical services...
.
AZ-TF1 is one of six Task Forces that is Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) certified having received extensive training in responding to incidents involving chemical
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
, biological
Biological agent
A biological agent — also called bio-agent or biological threat agent — is a bacterium, virus, prion, or fungus which may cause infection, allergy, toxicity or otherwise create a hazard to human health. They can be used as a biological weapon in bioterrorism or biological warfare...
or radiological agents
Radiological weapon
A radiological weapon or radiological dispersion device is any weapon that is designed to spread radioactive material with the intent to kill, and cause disruption upon a city or nation....
.
AZ-TF1 is the only Task Force allowed to be accompanied by armed police officers. The Task Force was suspended during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and sent home because of a violation of rules allowing a Task Force to carry firearms. Upon review, it was determined that all of the Phoenix Police Department
Phoenix Police Department
The Phoenix Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Phoenix, Arizona.Today, the Phoenix Police Department comprises more than 3,500 officers and 700 support personnel who protect a population of more than 1.6 million and patrol almost of the sixth largest city...
has been cross-certified as United States Marshals
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
. In addition, a FEMA Division Supervisor authorized the Task Force to bring the Marshals with them to provide protection from armed looters, persons wearing stolen police uniforms and alligators. FEMA lifted the suspension and currently allows the armed Phoenix officers to accompany the Task Force to provide protection as long as the officers wear a U.S. Marhals' uniform. The policy is under review for possible expansion to the other FEMA Task Forces.
Deployments
- Northridge earthquakeNorthridge earthquakeThe Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
, Los Angeles County, CaliforniaLos Angeles County, CaliforniaLos Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states... - Oklahoma City bombingOklahoma City bombingThe Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
, Oklahoma City, OklahomaOklahoma City, OklahomaOklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
- The first Task Force to arrive on April 19, 1995. Deactivated on April 24. - September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
- Deployed to World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
, New York City, New York - 2002 Winter Olympics2002 Winter OlympicsThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
- Deployed to a military base on standby in the event of a disaster or attack. - Debris recovery of Space Shuttle Columbia disasterSpace Shuttle Columbia disasterThe Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
- February 2003. - Hurricane KatrinaHurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
- Deployed to LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
but were suspended and released early for firearms violations. - Hurricane GustavHurricane GustavThe name Gustav has been used for five tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean:* 1984's Tropical Storm Gustav - Spent most of its existence as a tropical depression hovering over Bermuda, no major damage was reported....
, Galveston, Texas - Staging