Nz Usar Activiation Guideline

National Urban Search & Rescue Activation Procedure New Zealand Fire Service Special Operations National Headquarters Level 9, 80 The Terrace PO Box 2133 Wellington

Version 1 March 2008

NZ USAR Activation Guideline

TABLE OF CONTENTS DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTION

3

REVIEW PROCESS

3

INTRODUCTION

4

NEW ZEALAND’S USAR CAPABILITY

4

NATIONAL SUPPORT TEAM

4

USAR TASK FORCE

5

ACTIVATION

7

REQUESTING USAR ASSISTANCE

7

NATIONAL MOBILISATION PROCEDURE

7

ANNEX A - OTHER INFORMATION

9

NZFS COMCEN PAGING GROUPS

9

TELECONFERENCE NUMBER

9

OPERATIONAL CONTROL

9

OPERATIONAL EXPENSES

9

LOCAL PROCEDURES

9

STATIC_NZ USAR Domestic Activation Guideline_Version 1

page 2

NZ USAR Activation Guideline

DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTION Copies of this document will be distributed to:             

USAR National Support Team USAR Task Force Leaders National Commander’s Group (NZFS) Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand Aid New Zealand Defence Force Fire Region Managers (NZFS) Paid Chief Fire Officers (NZFS) Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups Communication Centres (NZFS) Communication Centres (Police) Communication Centres (Ambulance)

Review Process The USAR Operations Group will review this document annually.

STATIC_NZ USAR Domestic Activation Guideline_Version 1

page 3

NZ USAR Activation Guideline

INTRODUCTION This guide outlines the New Zealand National USAR activation arrangements within New Zealand. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is defined as a specialised technical rescue capability for the location and rescue of entrapped people following a structural collapse. This guideline does not affect CDEM group mutual aid agreements. USAR resources may be used for small localised domestic events, domestic events in support of a wider Civil Defence Emergency response or in support of a formal international request for assistance resulting from either a bilateral agreement or the United Nations.

NEW ZEALAND’S USAR CAPABILITY A USAR response consists of highly trained, multi-agency specialists responsible for their own safety and operational support. They operate within a defined structure as a specialised resource working under normal emergency management arrangements as part of the New Zealand Fire Service. New Zealand’s USAR capability currently consists of:  

1 National Support Team 3 (INSARAG) heavy level Task Forces (including support elements)

New Zealand USAR operates under the Fire Service Act (1975) and relevant Fire Service Operational Instructions at all times.

National Support Team The National Support Team (NST) provides the strategic operational coordination role for all USAR activities within New Zealand (refer National CDEM Plan & Guide). All members of the NST are to be CAT-1R and CAT-3 trained and qualified. The NST are identified on site by a white helmet with the words “National Support Team”. Operating under the authority of the authorising officer, operational activities include:        

Overall command and control of the USAR operation Managing the USAR incident notification & deployment approval system Liaison with the National Manager Special Operations (NZFS) Deployment with advanced team or with Task Force if required (determined by the nature of the incident) Liaison with Local Emergency Management Authorities (LEMA) Linking between Task Force Leader, LEMA and On Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) Remaining with OSOCC if required Arranging air transport if required

STATIC_NZ USAR Domestic Activation Guideline_Version 1

page 4

NZ USAR Activation Guideline

    

Managing re-supply arrangements in the field if required Managing assistance requests from TFL’s Ensuring staff welfare system activated Responsibility for team safety Financial delegated authority

US AR Task Force Leaders In most conditions this role is shared between two senior NZFS officers with Category 2 and 3 USAR training. The Task Force Leaders (TFLs) work a rotating 12-hour shift, with an overlap in shifts whenever there are two assigned watches, so as to maintain contact with the entire Task Force during USAR operations. The Task Force Leader is identified on site by a white helmet with the words “Task Force Leader”. Under the authority of the authorising officer, key operational activities include:    

      

Command and control of the Task Force Managing the deployment and withdrawal of the Task Force Manage operational activities, including support functions of Task Force In conjunction with the operations officers, NST and Incident Controller (where present) evaluate intelligence to develop and administer action plans for TF operations Managing staff welfare Maintaining a liaison role between the Task Force and the Incident Controller Liaising with the NST Producing and disseminating sitreps Media liaison Conducting briefings and debriefings Responsibility for team safety

US AR Task Force The New Zealand Fire Service maintains a total of 3 USAR Task Forces - Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. Each Task Force has a range of capabilities including structural collapse rescue, confined space rescue, electronic and canine search, engineer support, medical care, communications and self-sustainability. The diagram overleaf details the TF structure.

STATIC_NZ USAR Domestic Activation Guideline_Version 1

page 5

NZ USAR Activation Guideline

National Support Team

Task Force Leader

Additional Task Force

Deputy Task Force Leader

Squad Leader

Operations Officer

Operations Officer

Squad Leader

Squad Leader

Squad Leader

Rescuer(s)

Rescuer(s)

Rescuer(s)

Rescuer(s)

Medic(s)

Medic(s)

Medic(s)

Medic(s)

Technical Support Engineers Search Dogs Doctors HAZMAT

Additional Task Force

Operations Support Team Logistics / Planning Communications Equipment

High Angle Rescue Region support Others as required Plus Incident Support OSH

STATIC_NZ USAR Domestic Activation Guideline_Version 1

page 6

NZ USAR Activation Guideline

ACTIVATION Requesting US AR Assistance 1. Members of the public dialling 111 and requesting Fire Service may provide information that triggers a predetermined response, including USAR assets. 2. Any member of the CDEM community can initiate incident notifications through the NZFS communications centres or their Fire Service liaison officer. Police and Ambulance Services may also make a request for USAR assistance by following existing business as usual inter-agency processes. 3. NZFS personnel requiring USAR are to contact Central COMCEN and request a pager notification be sent to the USAR National Support Team. 4. Government agencies can request USAR by contacting either the National Manager Special Operations for planning purposes or for emergency response, by dialling 111 and requesting Fire Service and then the USAR NST Duty Officer.

NATIONAL MOBILISATION PROCEDURE Activation

By response triggers or as detailed above

Authority

National Commander New Zealand Fire Service, by the National Manager Special Operations (or delegated alternate)

1. Page USAR NST [National Support Team Paging Group]. 2. NST Duty Officer contacts Central Communications Centre to obtain incident details and determines whether USAR response required. If response is deemed appropriate, authorisation to deploy is sought from the National Commander NZFS via the National Manager Special Operations (or delegated alternate). 3. If a deployment is authorised, the NST Duty Officer requests Central COMCEN to page required Task Force Leaders. 4. Paged message may specify Task Force identifiers (i.e. TF1, TF2 or TF3 respectively) if required by the NST Duty Officer. 5. NST Duty Officer briefs alerted Team Leaders and places them on standby as appropriate. 6. NST Duty Officer updates Central COMCEN on action plan and has specified Task Forces paged with turn out information [Individual USAR TF]. Paged TF members respond as per local USAR instructions. 7. A member of the NST will be deployed to provide executive management of USAR activities. A second NST member will be on standby to be deployed should they be required.

STATIC_NZ USAR Domestic Activation Guideline_Version 1

page 7

NZ USAR Activation Guideline

The following flowchart details the arrangements for a domestic USAR deployment following a structural collapse event.

NZFS Communication Centre notified of incident

NST NOTIFIED

NST contact Incident Controller

Request for assistance confirmed NO

NST seek authorisation

BAU?

YES

Team Leaders Advised Region support as Required.

NO

Authorisation provided

NST liaise with Incident Controller

YES

Does the event require international support?

YES

Activate International Request & Coordination Protocol

NO TF Leaders advised Activate Teams

Team Resources assemble & deploy

STATIC_NZ USAR Domestic Activation Guideline_Version 1

page 8

NZ USAR Activation Guideline

ANNEX A: OTHER INFORMATION NZFS COMCEN Paging Groups USAR National Support Team USAR Task Force Team Leaders USAR Task Force 1 USAR Task Force 2 USAR Task Force 3

Teleconference Number Each member of the USAR NST has access to a 24/7-teleconference number. The Duty Officer as part of the activation sequence will release the dial in number.

Operational control Operational control of USAR activities is maintained by the National Manager Special Operations and delegated members of the NST as required. The Task Force Leader of each Task Force shall, under the direction of the NST, maintain operational control of their team.

Operational Expenses The costs of deploying USAR Task Forces are initially met by the deploying Task Force. Total reconciled costs will be met by National Headquarters for authorised deployments.

Local Procedures Each Task Force maintains a local procedure for mobilising personnel.

STATIC_NZ USAR Domestic Activation Guideline_Version 1

page 9