Heavy Equipment Rigger Specialist Course

I just completed FEMA's 3 day Heavy Equipment Rigger Specialist (aka HERS) course in Ocala, Florida. It was a great course that was run really well by some of the best instructors in the U.S. The days were full, with students from many different task forces. Each squad was a mix of USAR personnel from different regions. This was a good way to work, because we all have a standard basis with our past training from each task force. My squad, had guys from L.A. County CA-TF 2, Colorado CO-TF 1, Virginia VA-TF-1, Utah UT TF 1 & Riverside, CA TF-6.

The course was an intensive one that started early with classroom lecture, participation and group projects. The instructors even kept it interesting with a little score keeping competition between the squads. Afternoons, were out on the "pile" at the Florida State Fire training center. We had several crane types, a hydro crane, a lattice boom, and even a construction loader. We spent hours figuring ways to do "picks". Weights, centers of gravities, crane capabilities, and shifting loads had to be considered before doing any lifts. We used various sling types, and spent time using cutting torches from man baskets.

The final day scenario, gave each squad "watermelon" victims to search, locate, and extract while moving large amounts of concrete, vehicles, slabs, and even a helicopter. During one portion of the day, a personnel accountability report was taken and found that one rescuer was missing...we then spent several minutes searching for our "lost" rescuer. Finally, after a bit, we found him "napping" in the back of a nearby pick-up truck! Made for a good drill and a few chuckles! Our victims were all located and rescued in a faster than anticipated time by the instructors. It appears that FEMA/USAR members were up to the job, no matter which task force they were from!

All in all, the course gave a lot of confidence to myself and others in the class while operating with heavy equipment. I know now, that if any Heavy Riggers need support during a USAR activation, our teams have more trained, competent and confident personnel ready to help out when the need arises.

My thanks to the instructors who put on a great class and challenged us to work outside of our comfort zone.

Los Angeles City Fire USAR respond to Gustav

FEMA/USAR California Task Force 1-Los Angeles Fire Department responded ahead for Hurricane Gustav on August 29th. They drove the 1500 mile trip to Houston in 36 hours. Ca TF-1 will stage and wait for an assignment. With the active Hurricane season already in full force, deployments can run from one into another. USAR teams can be deployed up to ten days, but if needed, longer deployments are probable.

California Task Force 5-Responds to Gustav/Ike

FEMA/USAR California Task Force 5-Orange County responded ahead for Hurricane Gustav back on August 29th. They staged in Dallas Texas awaiting an assignment if necessary. Their team is a Type III USAR team consisting of 32 personnel from Orange County Fire Authority, Santa Ana FD, Orange City FD, and Anaheim FD.

With Hurricane Ike approaching, Task Force 5, finally got to go to work. They assisted with evaucation of 400 special need citizens out of Houston to a safe haven. With the approaching Hurricane Ike, TF 5 worked along with Nevade Task Force 1, Texas Task Forces 1& 2, and National Guard. The team used their experience as Firefighters and FEMA/USAR to safely evaucate all patients.

Metrolink-Freight Train Collision

The official death toll is 25 at the worst commuter train accident in California history. Over 135 patients were transported, at least 40 critical injuries. Clean-up is now under way to open the tracks, with Metrolink officials accepting blame for an Engineers failure to stop at a red signal light. USAR members from Los Angeles City Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Search Dogs for California OES, and heavy rescue units from Local Mutual Aid Fire Departments responded to this incident. A Full investigation is now under way by various government safety agencies.

LAFD Chatsworth Metrolink-Freight Train

Update: LAFD reports 18 Dead, with over 135 transported & treated at local area hospitals. 222 passengers were on board. One fatality was a LAPD officer. Overnight, rescue crews worked to free the last of the victims. USAR/Search dogs were being used to locate victims. Metrolink spokesmen, stated that Metrolink was at fault.


Los Angeles City Fire Department uses Engine, truck and Rescue companies to rescue trapped victims of a Metrolink commuter train and a freight train. With a reported 20 dead and 100 wounded, LAFD uses their Urban Search & Rescue Teams to access victims. Mutual aid from LA County, and Ventura County Fire Department USAR teams contribute to this ongoing rescue that will continue in the night. More to follow as tragedy unfolds.

Update: Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike is heading towards Galveston Island, Texas. FEMA has 9 USAR teams staged in Texas, and 6 teams in nearby states. Strike teams of ambulances have been moving hospital patients out of the expected impacted areas. FEMA, Texas Emergency Managers and local officials are all working together in order to evacuate citizens, animals and prepared to respond to any expected emergencies. This is a large hurricane, which is expected to reach Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

9/11 Anniversary

With the anniversary of the Terrorist attacks coming tomorrow, let's reflect on those that died that day. Remember the valor, bravery and unselfish acts, that Americans displayed that day.

Our teams response to the Trade Center Collapse will be discussed tomorrow...on 9/11.

Never, Ever, Ever Forget!

Hurricane Ike

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Ike is heading West-Northwest towards Texas. FEMA has 9 Urban Search & Rescue teams pre staged in various locations to respond to our fellow American's needs, if necessary.

This means over 600 USAR members are activated and ready to move with all of their equipment, supplies and personnel.

As a responder to Katrina in 2005, I saw the devastation firsthand. The immensity of flooding was staggering. Our assignment one day, was to search a 1 mile wide by 3 mile long area of residences, in which all of the homes were under several feet of water. We found many people who had decided to ride out the Hurricane, and were in need of rescue. The problem we faced was that the water was contaminated, so contact was not an option. We had to imrovise and use Navy "Ducks", those amphibious vehicles that drive on roads and double up as a boat. Each house was searched, one by one, as to assure that no one was left behind. It was Hot! and Humid, beyond belief! I lost several pounds a day from sweating, but after rescueing several residents, it was obvious our need there was most important!

USAR teams, personnally rescued over a thousand people in Katrina! Let's hope Ike, doesn't cause the same damage, but with the slow movement right now, Ike will be a powerful storm to say the least! Stand by for more!

USAR Teams

FEMA;s Urban Search & Rescue task forces are part of a national emergency response system. There are currently 28 teams in the United States. I've been a Rescue Specialist/ Rescue Team Officer, Instructor and Search Team Manager for California's Task Force 6-Riverside, for 15 years now. I have responded to team activations at the Northridge Earthquake, New York World Trade Center collapse (Ground Zero), and Hurricanes, Dean, Charley, Katrina and Rita. My training started with the inception of USAR teams after the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. The now 70 member task force is a functional 10 day. self contained team that has Search, Rescue, Medical, Structural, Logistics and Management segments.

I will post some photos off our activations and put some captions to explain our operation. I am very blessed to be part of this great team, and would invite questions or comments about the USAR team. The Photo above shows us in Yosemite National Park training in Advanced Swiftwater Rescue!

New Blog

Welcome!

This is my new blog. I've decided to start one, since I regularly visit different blog spots on the internet that interests me. So, I am very involved in different job activities, businesses, travels, and financial information. My journey is never dull, but I hope to share interesting tidbits, as well as the more trivial, but valuable information. This is going to be an evolving endeavour, so please be patient. Thanks for visiting and more to follow.....

Jim