US&R CA-TF6

Welcome to the California Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 6 Website!

Urban Search and Rescue, US&R, is a "multi-hazard" discipline, that may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms, tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials releases.

CA-TF6 is one of 28 National Task Forces and one of eight in California that respond as either FEMA or as a California EMA resource during emergencies requiring highly skilled search and rescue personnel. Although US&R Task Forces are FEMA resources, they also work for, and in support of, local response agencies.

Under the leadership of Division Chief and US&R Program Manager LaWayne Hearn, the highly trained members include firefighters, medical professionals, canine/handler teams and emergency management personnel with special expertise in search and rescue operations. They have performed search and rescue for numerous major disasters, including the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, and Hurricane Katrina.

As Division Chief and US&R Program Manager, Chief Hearn plans, organizes and administers the Urban Search and Rescue program for the Task Force. He directs US&R personnel and cache equipment during operational deployments.

Chief Hearn has extensive knowledge of principles and practices of emergency services administration and the National Incident Management System. He has had 12 years of practical experience in the technical aspects and capabilities of the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.

Mission Statement

The CA US&R System provides highly specialized personnel and resources, leveraged from the local level, for 24/7 response capability to the State and Federal Government.

The primary role of the CA US&R System is to provide highly trained, motivated and experienced personnel, specialized tools, equipment and techniques for the purpose of rescuing persons in peril as a result of natural and manmade disasters, terrorist acts and acts of war, as well as to provide large scale incident management coordination and support, as applicable, in support of overall incident operations.

Participating Agencies

Click on a link below to view participating agency homepages