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City of Redmond Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan ESF 9, Search and Rescue, August 2015 1 EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION – 9 Search and Rescue PRIMARY AGENCIES: Police Department Fire Department SUPPORT AGENCIES: Public Works Mutual Aid Fire and Rescue Agencies King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) I. INTRODUCTION A. PURPOSE The purpose of Emergency Support Function 9 (ESF-9) is to provide for the coordination and effective use of all available resources in conducting Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. B. SCOPE State law addresses both wilderness and disaster search and rescue. The federal government covers SAR in the National Response Framework (NRF) ESF-9, which references the National Search and Rescue Plan, along with other documents. Redmond Police Department (RPD) is the lead for land and/or water search and rescue, including lost or missing people, or search operations in wooded, wilderness, or more natural areas. RPD will coordinate with other agencies such as the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) as needed for larger operations that require additional resources. KCSO may call on trained SAR volunteers to conduct mass search operations. Redmond Fire Department (RFD) is lead for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations, which consist of specialized rescue in partially collapsed structures as well as extraction from vehicles, water, confined space, trench and high angle environments. RFD will request mutual aid or other outside agencies when necessary on heavy rescue operations, including disaster situations that may require the specially trained and equipped FEMA USAR Team: WA State Task Force 1. See also ESF-4 Firefighting, for capabilities of RFD. RPD and RFD will form a Unified Command as needed, depending on the nature and complexity of an incident. Air search and rescue is defined by RCW Chapter 47.68 and WAC Chapter 468.200. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Redmond Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan ESF 9, Search and Rescue, August 2015 2 II. POLICIES A. Land SAR operates in accordance with State and local jurisdiction plans. Requests for additional SAR resources, if one political subdivision is unable to provide the necessary or sufficient equipment, are coordinated with King County Sheriff’s Office. B. Air SAR for missing or downed civil aircraft is the responsibility of Department of Transportation (WSDOT) (Chapter 47.68 RCW) and WAC (Chapter 468.200). C. An Underground (Mine) SAR Plan is required by RCW 38.52.037. D. The Incident Command System (ICS) is the method for on-scene incident management for SAR operations within the State. In accordance with RCW 38.52.400 ICS shall be used for multi-agency/multi-jurisdiction SAR operations. E. Redmond adheres to State law (Section 38.52.010 RCW) to encompass both wilderness and disaster Search and Rescue (SAR), which says: "Search and rescue" means the acts of searching for, rescuing, or recovering by means of ground, marine, or air activity any person who becomes lost, injured, or is killed while outdoors or as a result of a natural, technological, or human caused disaster, including instances involving searches for downed aircraft when ground personnel are used. Nothing in this section shall affect appropriate activity by the department of transportation under chapter 47.68 RCW. III. SITUATION A. INCIDENT CONDITIONS AND HAZARDS See the City of Redmond Basic CEMP for a description of potential emergency conditions (Mitigation Activities section) and vulnerable population information (Access and Functional Needs section). B. PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS 1. No guarantee of a perfect response system is expressed or implied by this ESF. The City of Redmond will make every reasonable effort to respond based on the situation, information, and resources available at the time of the incident. 2. Available resources may become limited due to high demand in a large-scale incident. 3. All departments are required to support this ESF as necessary. 4. Roads providing access to SAR points may be obstructed or impassable. 5. SAR teams are trained to handle multiple rescue types and scenarios. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Redmond Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan ESF 9, Search and Rescue, August 2015 3 IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS A. GENERAL ESF-9, Search and Rescue, manages and coordinates the response of local SAR resources in response to any incident involving search and rescue operations. These include, but are not limited to, aircraft, urban, water, and woodlands incidents. This ESF utilizes established emergency service and search and rescue procedures. Responsibility for situation assessment and determination of resource needs rests with local incident commanders. B. PROCEDURES 1. The ESF-9 Coordinator is responsible for coordinating SAR resources and operations within the City. 2. Coordination with all supporting and other appropriate departments, agencies, and organizations will be performed to ensure continual operational readiness. 3. Applicable plans for appropriate use of personnel and equipment tasked for SAR missions will be activated upon initial coordination of rescue mission. 4. The staffing pattern and level will be dependent upon the nature and magnitude of the incident, the suddenness of onset, and the existence of SAR resources in the area. C. PREVENTION AND MITIGATION ACTIVITIES 1. Review the Redmond Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) as a department and discuss implementation strategies. 2. Review proposed non-USAR legislation to assure it is supportive of the State’s emergency management mission. 3. Support preventive SAR programs. D. PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES 1. Appoint a coordinator of SAR operations. 2. Establish systems to coordinate requests for SAR resources. 3. Support law enforcement personnel and volunteer organizations and individuals with SAR related training. 4. Assist in the organization of SAR units. 5. Coordinate and maintain liaison with local and regional SAR agencies. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Redmond Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan ESF 9, Search and Rescue, August 2015 4 E. RESPONSE ACTIVITIES 1. Initiate, coordinate, and direct land, air and/or water search and rescue operations within the City of Redmond. 2. Police Department will request water and urban search and rescue assistance through the Fire Department. 3. Request land search and rescue resource assistance through mutual aid agreements. F. RECOVERY ACTIVITIES 1. Conduct a post-incident review to evaluate the incident. 2. Create After-Action Reports and Lessons Learned Reports. 3. Provide documentation of costs incurred by the incident to the City ECC. V. RESPONSIBILITIES a. Direct land and/or water search and rescue operations. b. Ensure staff is adequately trained to handle SAR operations. c. Establish mutual aid agreements and other plans for the sharing of resources during a SAR operation. VI. RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS The City will provide resources necessary for conducting search and rescue operations until resources are expended at which time a request for assistance will be sent to the County EOC via the City ECC. VII. REFERENCES a. Chapter 38.52 RCW. b. City of Redmond Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) and King County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan See the Resources section of the Redmond CEMP Basic Plan or the Emergency Plans page in the Public Safety section of www.redmond.gov for links. c. National Search and Rescue Plan d. Refer to primary and supporting department plans for further information supporting this ESF. ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Redmond Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan ESF 9, Search and Rescue, August 2015 5 e. King County CEMP ESF-9, http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/prepare/EmergencyManagementProfessionals/Plans/Co mprehensiveEmergencyManagementPlan.aspx f. National Response Framework, http://www.fema.gov/national-response-framework, ESF-9 Search and Rescue Annex