Virginia Task Force 1 Mobilized
Virginia Task Force 1 (VATF-1), Fairfax County’s urban search and rescue team was mobilized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Friday, March 11, 2011, with potential to deploy to Japan to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck early this morning.
A heavy task force is comprised of 72 personnel, search and rescue canines, physicians, paramedics, structural engineers, technical search and rescue specialists, and other support personnel have started to mobilize.
The team was last activated in January of 2010 following the devastating earthquake near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. VATF-1 has deployed overseas to both natural and man-made disasters for 25 years, including Kenya, Taiwan, Armenia, and Turkey.
Additionally, as a part of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, the team maintains constant operational readiness, and is a local resource for the residents of Fairfax County.
Source: Fairfax County Fire-Rescue Department
More stories on Virginia Task Force 1 on VAFireNews.com here
Dave Statter also has coverage here
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