Louisiana Task Force 1
Policy & Procedure Manual
1
2
A.
OVERVIEW
Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) involves determining the location, implementing
rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined
spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims
may also be trapped in transportation accidents and collapsed trenches.
Urban Search and Rescue is considered a "multi-hazard" discipline, as it may be needed
for a wide variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, storms
and tornadoes, floods, sink holes, trench cave in, confined space rescue, industrial
accidents, transportation accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials
releases. The events may be slow in developing, as in the case of hurricanes, or sudden,
as in the case of tornadoes or aircraft disasters.
B.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Louisiana Task Force-1 (LA TF-1) is trained and equipped to respond to all hazards
including WMD, terrorist, structural collapse, water rescue, confined space, rope,
trench, and vehicle rescue incidents of major proportions. The Task Force shall work to
ensure that all emergency response agencies in the Region I area work and train
together to enhance the safety of the region’s and the State of Louisiana’s citizens.
C. TASK FORCE COMPOSITION and FUNCTIONS
LA TF-1 is structured to safely operate continuously for twelve to twenty-four hour
operations and be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 Hours. Primarily, it performs the
functions of search, rescue, and medical care for task force members and rescued
victims. The individual team components and primary functions are outlined below.
1. Management
Composition: Task Force Leader
Safety Officer
Planning Manager
Search/Rescue Team Manager
Logistics Manager
Medical Team Manager
Function:
Provides overall management and coordination of task
force operations.
3
2. Search/Rescue
Composition: Canine Search Specialists and Search Canines,
Technical Search Specialists, a Heavy Rigging Specialist
and Rescue Specialists organized into squads with a leader
and rescue specialists
Function:
Utilize canines and technical/electronic search to locate
trapped victims. Perform extrication of trapped victims.
3. Medical
Composition: Physicians and Medical Specialists at the paramedic or
equivalent level
Function:
Provide pre-hospital and emergency care for task force
members and crush syndrome/confined space medicine for
rescued victims.
4. Planning
Composition: Technical Information Specialists, Hazardous Materials
Specialists, and Structures Specialists.
Function:
Provide support to the overall search and rescue mission to
include planning, hazards evaluation, and technical
documentation.
5. Logistics
Composition: Logisticians, Communications Specialists,
Function:
Provide support to the overall search and rescue mission to
include logistical, communications, mobilization and
demobilization, transportation, and structural integrity
assessments.
D.
CAPABILITIES
The Task Force maintains the following capabilities;











Physical, canine, and technical search operations
Rescue operations in an urban environment
Water rescue operations
Heavy equipment operations in rescue efforts
Structural integrity assessments
Prehospital medicine at the advanced life support level
Hazardous materials assessment and mitigation (to include WMD)
On and off-site communications
Resource accountability, maintenance, and equipment procurement
Documentation
Public Information management
4
E. TASK FORCE SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
1.MOBILIZATION MANUAL (MOB)
LA TF-1 will maintain a written comprehensive mobilization plan. The procedures that
allow the task force to meet the 6-hour mobilization requirement are documented in the
Mobilization Manual.
The Mobilization Manual will address, at a minimum, the following areas:
 24-hour Emergency contact point for the task force

Request for Response

Procedure for mission notification

A personnel call-out method for activating the task force members

Backup notification process for alerts & activations


Initial Task Force Planning
A task force Point Of Departure (POD) for deploying members.

Checklists for minimum PPE and recommended deployment items

Canine waiver and health certificates

Point Of Arrival (POA)/ Mobilization Site

Base of Operations (BOO) set-up procedures

Demobilization
F. US&R RESOURCES REQUEST
The Task Force will maintain a list of all outside resources with which it has an
agreement for service through an MOA or MOU. The list will include the following
information at a minimum:

Name of resource provider

Type of resource(s) provided

24 hour contact name and phone number
The Task Force will maintain electronic and hard copies of all MOAs and MOUs with
outside resources.
5
G.
STAFFING and TEAM STRUCTURE
LA TF-1TEAM RESOURCE
An LA TF-1 US&R Team consists of 31 personnel and is capable of working for operational
periods of 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Up to five additional personnel may be included
for ground support requirements.
Task Force
Leader
Safety Officer
Search and
Rescue
Manager
Search and
Rescue Team
Leader
Rescue
Specialist (4)
Technical
Search
Specialist
Canine Search
Specialist
Search and
Rescue Team
Leader
Planning
Manager
Heavy
Equipment
Rigging
Specialist
Technical
Information
Specialist
Rescue
Specialist (4)
Technical
Search
Specialist
Canine Search
Specialist
Logistics
Manager
Logistics
Specialist (2)
Structures
Specialist
Communication
s Specialist
Hazardous
Materials
Specialist
Support Team
(5)
Medical
Manager
Medical
Specialist (2)
Operations
The Task Force will maintain an Operations Standard Operating Guideline. The Guideline
will describe the basic Task Force procedures during operational periods. This document will
contain the following information at a minimum:
 Responsibilities of Task Force duty positions during operational periods
 Reconnaissance procedures
 Tactical planning procedures
 Task organization
 Documentation procedures
6
H.
APPLICATION & MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
LA TF-1 will maintain a standard application that will be provided to any
individual that wishes to become a member of the Task Force. Applicants will be
required to fill this document out completely prior to admission to the Task
Force. A copy of the members completed application will be maintained in both
electronic and hard copy form.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
The Sponsoring Organization shall be responsible for the following:
 Ensuring that the member is available for all mandatory Task Force
training
 Ensuring that the member is available, when local conditions allow, for
deployments
 Paying the member’s salary during deployments
 Providing accident/injury coverage during training and deployments
LA TF-1 Member shall be responsible for the following:
 Attending all mandatory training sessions
 Ensuring they are mentally and physically capable of deploying with
the Task Force when activated
 Maintaining all personal equipment necessary for deployment
 Meeting all initial training required by their duty position
 Maintaining all required refresher training
.
Dismissal
Any member may be dismissed from LA TF-1by the Task Force Leader or a
Command Staff Member for misconduct, poor performance, unsafe acts, lack of
participation, or other violations as established by LA TF-1rules and
regulations. Removal of members shall only occur based on just cause and after
a hearing by command staff.
A member may be dismissed for missing two consecutive training quarters
without just cause as determined by the LA TF-1’s coordinators.
Duties of Team Members
LA TF-1 will maintain a document describing the training and position specific
requirements for each duty position staffed by the Task Force. Members must
be assigned to a specific position and have the required training in order to be
deployable.
7






















Deployment Kit
The following list of equipment is the minimum for deployment
readiness. It is each Task Force member’s responsibility to acquire and
maintain this equipment.
4 BDU Pants
4 BDU Long Sleeve Shirts
4 long Sleeve T-Shirts
4 short Sleeve T-Shirts
7 set of Underwear
7 pair of socks
1 set knee pads
1 set elbow pads
1 USAR certified helmet
1 safety toe boots
Boonie or Baseball hat
Safety gloves
Safety eyewear
1 set rain gear
1 cold weather coat
1 set personal hygiene gear
Spare contact and prescriptive eyewear
Personal medications
1 Bath Towel
1 Wash Cloth
1 roll Toilet Paper
1 flashlight with extra bulb and batteries










1 bottle insect repellent
1 metal or plastic 12 oz. cup
2 quart size water containers
1 mirror
First Aid Kit
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Sweat pants for sleeping
Shower shoes
Dirty clothes bag
8
I. LOGISTICS
The Task Force will maintain a Logistics Standard Operating Guide. This document
will describe the duties of Task Force personnel in the Logistics Section before, during, and
after deployments and will contain the following information at a minimum:
 The responsibilities of Task Force Logistics personnel
 Safety procedures
 Maintenance procedures
 Consumables and expendables procedures
 Logistics documentation
 Load plans
 Cache Readiness Plan
 Accountability and Tracking Plan
J. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
The Task Force will maintain an Administrative Standard Operating Guide.
This document will describe the duties of Task Force personnel in the Planning Section
before, during, and after deployments and will contain the following information at a
minimum:
 The responsibilities of Task Force Planning personnel
 Financial reimbursement procedures for Task Force personnel
 Financial reimbursement procedures for assisting resources
 Personnel tracking procedures
 Legal documentation
 Human Resources documentation
 Task Force information technology

Financial Procedures to include:
1. Accounting Records
2. Charge card procedure
3. Reimbursement of expenses
4. Tracking expenses
9
ALS
BOO
BSI
CDC
CFR
DEP
Dept
DMAT
DMORT
DOT
EMA
EMAC
EMS
EOC
ERT
ERT-A
ESF
EST
FASAR
FAX
FEMA
FFCA
FM
FNARS
FOG
FRP
FY
GIS
GOHSEP
HEPA
Haz Mat
HF
IAP
IC
ICP
ICS
ID
IDLH
IST
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Advanced Life Support
Base of Operations
Body Substance Installation
Centers for Disease Control
Code of Federal Regulations
Department of Environment Protection
Department
Disaster Medical Assistance Team
Disaster Mortuary Team
Department of Transportation
Emergency Management Agency
Emergency Management Assistance Compact
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Operations Center
Emergency Response Team
Emergency Response Team, Advance Element (FEMA)
Emergency Support Function
Emergency Support Team
Florida Association of Search and Rescue
Facsimile
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Florida Fire Chief’s Association
Frequency Modulation
FEMA National Radio System
Field Operations Guide
Federal Response Plan
Fiscal Year
Geographic Information System
Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness
High Efficient Particulate
Hazardous Materials
High Frequency
Incident Action Plan
Incident Commander
Incident Command Post
Incident Command System
Identification
Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health
Incident Support Team (FEMA)
10
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
KHz
LAD
LASFMO
MHz
MOA
MOB
MOU
MRE
NDMS
NECC
NEMIS
NFPA
NIIMS
OSHA
PIO
PNS
POA
POC
POD
Recon
R&R
RN
QLFT
QNFT
SAR
SCBA
SERP
SABA
TAC
TF
LA TF-1
TFCC
TFL
ULN
US&R
USAR
USFS
USGS
USNG
USPHS
Kilohertz
Latest Arrival Date
Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office
Megahertz
Memorandum of Agreement
Mobilization Manual
Memorandum of Understanding
Meal, Ready-to-eat
National Disaster Medical System
National Emergency Coordination Center
National Emergency Management Information system
National Fire Protection Association
National Interagency Incident Management System
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Public Information Officer
Paging Network System
Point of Arrival/Mobilization
Point of Contact
Point of Departure
Reconnaissance
Response and Recovery Directorate/Rest and Rehabilitation
Registered Nurse
Qualitative Fit Testing
Quantitative Fit test
Search and Rescue
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
State Emergency Response Plan
Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
Tactical radio frequency
Task Force
Louisiana Task Force One
Task Force Control Center
Task Force Leader
Unit Line Number
Urban Search and Rescue
United States Army Reserve
United States Forest Service
United States Geological Survey
United States National Grid system
United States Public Health Service
11