USAR.CZ - TEAM DISPATCH TO ABROAD

USAR.CZ / TEAM DISPATCH TO ABROAD

Readiness of the prederminated forces and means is ordered by the control officer of the Operation and Information Centre of MI-DG FRS CR, after receiving an information on a major disaster abroad or a request of assistance to abroad. After specification of a nominal list of members, the control officer prepares and ensures General Director’s Order for calling FRS CR’s officers up to a business trip to fulfil extraordinary tasks of FRS CR. The Order nominates the command officer, team members, specifies tasks, target and the way of transport, a meeting point before departure of the team, time of departure and other requirements in accordance to the Article 4 of the General Director’s Direction No. 45 from 9 October 2003, in wording of the General Director’s Direction No. 7 from 2 February 2004.

 

 

Before departure of the team, the General Director’s Order for calling FRS CR’s officers up to a business trip to provide humanitarian assistance is read. The Order is issued in accordance to the Article 20 of the Law No. 186/1992 on service relationship of the Czech Police, in wording of latter regulations (later “the Service Law”) and in accordance to the Article 4b of the Law No. 239/2000 on Integrated Rescue System and on some changes, in wording of latter regulations.

 

                  

                                                                                                                                        

             

    

 

Crucial issues for dispatch of a rescue team to abroad are following:

Territory of Europe and other states that request for assistance of specially prepared and prederminated forces (unit of MI-GD FRS CR), transport by ground up to 1,000 km (17 hours for transport) or by air from 1,000 km to 2,000 km;

is limited by equipment of the Czech Army. General Staff of the Czech Army enables to the Czech team to use two An-26 aeroplanes (for loads approx. 4 tons), readiness of the crew for departure is from 3 to 6 hours. Other possible transport: TU-154 aeroplane, Mi-17 helicopter. Air transport limits size of the unit up to 24 members with equipment for up to 5 days; at the place of operation another transport is needed – provided by receiving part.

Ground transport
enables to move heavy equipment, and for the unit to be independent up to 10 days; financial capacity for the unit up to 25 members with six vehicles, which can do extinguishing and/or rescue work and logistics. Transport of personnel is preferred by bus.

Combined transport 
forces transported by air can be supplied by ground forces dispatched up to 2,000 km (60 hours for transport), with full support and logistics for first unit dispatched by air.

Nature of rescue operation

         Teams within FRS CR are prepared for:

-         Search and rescue from collapsed buildings – USAR team (Urban Search and Rescue). USAR teams are classified based on the INSARAG methodology which the Czech Republic accepted by the UN General Assembly’s Resolution No. 57/150 from 16. December 2002, on reinforcement of efficiency and on coordination of assistance in international search and rescue operations. This structure allows two squads of rescuers to work continuously at least for 72 hours in 8-hours shifts.

-         Disposal of fires – for extinguishing of oil fires, forest fires, or substitute activities instead of fire units of an affected country.

-         Rescue work in floods – for rescue and evacuation of people from areas affected by floods, and for recovery after floods and/or excessive precipitations.

-         Operation in chemical and environmental accidents – for interventions with HazMat inc. clean-up of oil materials from water surface both streams and back-waters. 

 

The USAR team for sear and rescue operation abroad and with air transport is composed from fire officers of the Prague Fire Rescue Service, which is big enough for choosing suitable team members – experienced firefighters with special skills, command practice and knowledge of foreign languages. Closeness to the Prague Airport is important for readiness of the team. There are 66 firefighters of the Prague FRS predetermined for prime engage, i.e. 22 in each shift. All are chosen based on health and psychical abilities, vaccinated, and specially trained. 

The team for ground transport can be supplied by fire officers from other regional FRSs.

 

Liaison officer (or coordinator) is supposed to be sent together with the rescue team to the disaster place. Liaison officer should be a person with good language and organisation abilities, experienced in rescue operations or in providing humanitarian assistance. Tasks of a liaison officers are to contact particular international coordination centre or a local body for emergency management, and to ensure conditions for the Czech team intervention and/or providing of assistance.

Liaison officer is chosen from the List mainly by language demands. The List of liaison officers predetermined to be involved in international rescue operations was configured from records of regional FRSs, and it is done by Article 2b of the Government Decision No. 463/2002.

 

 Mr. Vodička and Mr. Kareš - Thailand 2018 (Rescue of people trapped in the cave system)

Doctor for the team is provided based on request from the Health Department of the Ministry of Interior. His tasks are to take care on team members, no requests for rescue skills are claimed.

 

Dog handlers incorporated to the team are chosen in cooperation with the Czech Canine Rescue Brigade Association. There are 18 predetermined dog handlers from the whole Czech Republic, divided into 6 cartage groups by three, and vaccinated.

© 2006 Created by CZI, s.r.o. All rights reserved.