USAR Task Force 1 & 2 Heading to Japan

United States Urban Search and Rescue teams, Virginia Task Force 1 ("VA-TF1") and California Task Force 2 ("CA-TF2") were activated on Friday by USAID.

The teams are mobilizing for deployment to Japan on behalf of the United States in the aftermath of the massive magnitude-8.9 earthquake and tsunami that has devastated Northern Japan.

Ready for Disaster!

Both VA-TF1 and CA-TF2 are specially-trained and equipped 72-person Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces consisting of Los Angeles County (CA) and Fairfax County (VA) Fire Department firefighters, paramedics, rescue specialists, emergency room physicians, structural engineers, heavy equipment specialists, canine search dogs and handlers, hazardous materials technicians, communications specialists, and logistics specialists.

Each unique technical rescue team responds with 55,000 pounds of prepackaged search and rescue tools and medical equipment to conduct around-the-clock search and rescue operations at domestic and international disasters, both natural and man-made.

A Witness to Deployment

Last year, both Task Force Teams were depoyed to Haiti after Haiti's deadly earthquake. California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) deployed from March Air Base in Riverside County on their 8-hour flight. March Air Base is 14 miles north of Canyon Lake, CA where I live. I was able to watch the take-off live on our local news and went outside to witness the massive Military C-17 carrying the CA-TF1 crew fly low right over of my home accending on it's journey to devastation.

I have personally seen the LA County Fire USAR team in action after the magnitude-6.7 Northridge earthquake in 1994 (Jan. 17) while I was a photographer for LA County Fire and all I can say is these guys are "fearless badasses", the best of the best heading into the worst of the worst!

* Photos above are provided courtesy of the L.A. County Fire Dept. 

USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance

VA-TF1 and CA-TF2 are partnered in providing the U.S. Agency for International Development’s ("USAID") Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance with humanitarian assistance in the form of collapsed structure search and rescue, in response to natural and man-made disasters, throughout the world.

Both task forces have also deployed nationally to the Oklahoma City Bombing, The Pentagon, Hurricanes Katrina and Isabel as well as international deplyments to the bombing in Kenya, earthquakes in Turkey, Taiwan, Iran, and Haiti.

Help Needed! How You Can Help

If you wish to help, you can donate to the American Red Cross for Japan in the following ways:

1. Make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org by clicking on the Donate Now button.

2. Call in a donation to the Red Cross at 1-800-REDCROSS or for Spanish call 1-800-257-7575.

3. By texting "REDCROSS" to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross, through an effort backed by the U.S. State Department (http://www.state.gov/). Your donation will be automatically billed to your cell phone.

Or, visit the site below to learn more about ongoing disaster relief in Japan:

+ InterAction - List of Agencies Accepting Donations

And Finally...

Family members trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or (202) 647-5225.

Related Links of Interest 
 
+ California Task Force 2 International Urban Search & Rescue

+ Virgina Task Force 1 International Urban Search & Rescue

+ CNN News Coverage

+ Preparing for a Major Earthquake or Disaster

+ Police Scanners & Emergency Preparedness

That all for now, let's hope for the best for Japan's survivors...

-RF

URGENT!! TSUNAMI WATCH ISSED FOR HAWAII & WEST COAST OF U.S!!

A Massive Magnitude 8.9 Earthquake Struck Japan at 9:46 PT on March 10, 2011! A Tsunami Watch and Advisory has been issued from West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center!!

If you live near the beach areas anywhere in the Western US, monitor your police scanner and watch CNN or MSN for latest news! Those of you in Hawaii, get to higher ground as Hawaii is expecting a 6-7 foot tsunami around 3:00AM Hawaii time! West Coast around 6:00AM!

For updates on the advisory below, go to:

+ Tsunami Watch and Advisory
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/

+ Magnitude 8.9 - NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0001xgp.php

-RF
======================================
To: U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and British Columbia coastal regions

From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Subject: Tsunami Watch and Advisory #3 issued 03/10/2011 at 11:33PM PST

UPDATED MAGNITUDE TO 8.8 – Japan Region

The Tsunami Advisory continues in effect for the coastal areas of Alaska from Chignik Bay, Alaska to Attu, Alaska.

The Tsunami Watch continues in effect for the coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska from the California-Mexico border to Chignik Bay, Alaska.

A Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected. Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

A Tsunami Watch means that all coastal residents in the watch area should prepare for possible evacuation. A tsunami watch is issued to areas which will not be immediately impacted by the tsunami. Watch areas will either be upgraded to warning or advisory status, or canceled.

At 9:46 PM Pacific Standard Time on March 10, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.8 occurred near the east coast of Honshu, Japan . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.) This earthquake has generated a tsunami which could cause damage to coastal regions in a warning or advisory. The waves are expected to first reach Shemya, Alaska at 12:13 AM AKST on March 11. Estimated tsunami arrival times and maps along with safety rules and other information can be found on the WCATWC web site listed below.

Measurements of reports of tsunami activity:

TSUNAMI OBSERVED ON DEEP OCEAN BUOY
UPGRADED MAGNITUDE TO 8.8

Tsunamis can be dangerous waves that are not survivable. Wave heights are amplified by irregular shoreline and are difficult to forecast. Tsunamis often appear as a strong surge and may be preceded by a receding water level. Mariners in water deeper than 600 feet should not be affected by a tsunami. Wave heights will increase rapidly as water shallows. Tsunamis are a series of ocean waves which can be dangerous for several hours after the initial wave arrival. DO NOT return to evacuated areas until an all clear is given by local civil authorities.
Pacific coastal regions outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska should refer to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center messages for information on the event.

For Updates, Go To: http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/

Police Officer Line of Duty Deaths in 2010

 I would like to take this time to pause and remember the 161 police officers killed in the line of duty in 2010. In this post, I will focus on Police Officer line of duty deaths and firefighter fatalities in the next post.

On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1792, nearly 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Spike in Line of Duty Deaths

2010 was a particularly deadly year for law enforcement, especially after 2009’s 50-year low of 117. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial fund, deaths in the line of duty jumped 37% to 161 in 2010.

There was also a 24 percent spike in shooting deaths from 49 deaths in 2009 to 61 in 2010. The spike in deaths is attributed to “Cluster killings”, more than one officer killed in a single incident. Five multiple fatality shootings accounted for nearly 20 percent of all fatal shootings.

Multiple fatality incidents occurred in: Fresno, CA (2 Officers from separate agencies), San Juan, PR (2 Officers), West Memphis, AR (2 Officers), Tampa, FL (2 Officers), and Hoonah, AK (2 Officers), accounting for 10 officer deaths, or 20 percent of all fatal shootings.

For the third year in a row, Texas (19), Florida (9) and California (11) were in the top five states with the most fatalities - a combined total of 39, or 24 percent of the national total for 2010.

Thirty nine states, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico experienced officer fatalities in 2010. Eleven federal law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2010, including three U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and two agents from the U.S. Border Patrol.

Leading Cause of Line of Duty Deaths

Preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund show that for the 13th year in a row, traffic fatalities were the leading cause of officer fatalities, with 73 officers killed in the line of duty—an increase of 43 percent from 2009.

Of the 73 traffic-related fatalities in 2010, 50 officers died in automobile crashes, 16 were struck and killed by automobiles while outside of their vehicles, 1 died in a bicycle accident, and 6 died in motorcycle crashes.

The average age of the officers killed in 2010 was 41; the average length of their law enforcement service was nearly 12 years and on average each officer left behind 2 children. By gender, 154 officers were male and 7 officers were female.

Source: NLEOMF: "Law Enforcement Fatalities Spike Dangerously in 2010"

Fallen Hero Memorials

Below you will find links to Police Officer Memorials. If you have the time, visit the memorials and read some of the entries. I am sure you will be deeply moved as I always am by the countless stories of selfless courage and heroism exhibited by police officers and firefighters who lost their lives while serving and protecting the citizens of this great nation in 2010 and years past.

Also, there are also links to donate to police officer memorial funds. All donations go towards helping families of officers killed in the line of duty get through the difficult times of their loss.

Related Links of Interest

• Officer Down Memorial Page

• Latest Officer Down Headlines

• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
 
• Police-Scanner.info's First Responder Tribute Page

• Article: "Why Police Officer Deaths Rose 37% in 2010"

That's it for now, until next time, stay safe and thank a police officer for their service next time you see one, they will appreciate it!

-RF