B&N Joins National Urban Search & Rescue Team

The September 11 terrorist attacks propelled the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Teams into the spotlight. Burgess & Niple has joined the ranks of Ohio’s FEMA US&R Team, based out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

FEMA operates 28 US&R teams throughout the country staffed and equipped to conduct round-the-clock search-and-rescue operations following earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, aircraft accidents, hazardous materials spills, terrorist attacks and catastrophic structure collapses.

In the event of a disaster, FEMA will deploy the three closest teams within six hours of notification, and additional teams as necessary. The role of these teams is to support state and local emergency responders’ efforts to locate victims and manage recovery operations. Each team consists of 62 highly trained specialists, four canines, and a comprehensive equipment cache.

Mark Bernhardt, PE, Director of Facility Inspection, is a Structural Specialist on Ohio’s FEMAUS&R Team.

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