Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Authorizing an Agreement for McKinney Fire to Serve as a Task Force Participating Agency for the Dallas Regional Urban Search and Rescue Task Force (Task Force 2)
summary
MEETING DATE: June 19, 2012
DEPARTMENT: Fire Department
CONTACT: Fire Chief Danny Kistner
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Approve Resolution
ITEM SUMMARY:
· Texas Task Force 2 is a Type III, Urban Search & Rescue Task Force, primarily serving the 16 counties within the North Central Texas Council of Governments Region. This area encompasses approximately 12,800 square miles. Although TX-TF2 is not part of the FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Response System, the Task Force has staffing and equipment equivalent to the FEMA/NIMS recommendations for Type III Task Forces.
· Regionally, TX-TF2 provides immediate Search and Rescue response by a minimum of 42 on-duty personnel. Future plans include upgrading to an equivalent, FEMA Type I Task Force, consisting of a minimum of 70 on-duty members supported by Regional Partners.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
· The mission of Texas task Force II is to provide a coordinated effort including the necessary personnel and equipment to locate, extricate, rescue, and provide immediate medical treatment to victims trapped as a result of a natural or manmade disaster. The Texas Task Force 2 Urban Search & Rescue Team will rapidly mobilize to assist municipal, state, and federal agencies when called upon.
· In 2004, the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department proposed the concept of a regional Urban Search and Rescue Task Force to the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The team would have the capability of responding anywhere in the 16 county area of the NCTCOG. The team became active on April 1, 2007 as Texas Task Force 2 (TX-TF2) as a FEMA equivalent Type 3 Urban Search and Rescue Team. In that same year, the team became an asset to the State of Texas and deployed to Hurricane Dean. Over the succeeding years, the team deployed to six State of Texas deployments. In 2009 the team received funding from the State of Texas to enhance the team's development to a FEMA equivalent Type 1 team. A number of participating agencies joined in the development of the team. Along with the City of Dallas, the team is made up of over 200 members from DFW Airport, Richardson Fire Department, Irving Fire Department, Garland Fire Department, Haltom City Fire Department, Farmers Branch Fire Department, Bedford Fire Department, Burleson Fire Department, University of Texas Health Science Center Dallas, Commerce Fire Department, McKinney Fire Department, and Travis County Emergency Services District.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
· The task Force is divided up into three teams, The Red Team, White Team and Blue Team. The three teams are staggered for the deployment rotation so no one agency that participates will be burdened should the Task Force be activated. Should an activation occur and members of a participating agency, are deployed, the City Of Dallas/Dallas Fire Rescue assumes the financial responsibility for the deployment and the backfill for each participating agency to offset the cost of the deployment. Dallas Fire rescue is then reimbursed when all the necessary paperwork is completed and filed.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: N/A