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USAR Mission:

The National Urban Search and Rescue System was established under the authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1989. It is a framework for structuring local emergency service personnel into integrated disaster response task forces. VATF-2 is located at 513 Viking Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia and is under the leadership of Fire Chief David Hutcheson. The Task Force can be deployed by FEMA to any national emergency or disaster.

Capabilities of VATF-2

• Physical Search and Rescue Operations - in damaged or collapsed structures.
• Emergency Medical Care - for entrapped victims, task force members and search canines.
• Reconnaissance - to determine damage and provide damage assessments for local, state and federal officials.
• Survey and Evaluate Hazardous Material Situations.
• Structural and Hazard Evaluations - of buildings needed for immediate occupancy to support disaster relief operations.
• Stabilization - of damaged structures that include shoring and cribbing operations.
• Coordination of the Federal Resources - in an effect to locate, extricate and provide initial medical care and treatment to victims trapped within collapsed structures resulting from a disaster.