National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System

Objective

The National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System (the System) provides funding to ensure adequate management, training, exercise, procurement (vehicle and equipment) and storage and maintenance for the 28 national task forces staffed and equipped to assist state and local governments, tribes and territories to conduct around-the-clock search-and-rescue operations following a major disaster or emergency declared under the Stafford Act (e.g., earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, aircraft accidents, hazardous materials spills and catastrophic structure collapses). When deployed, these task forces support State and local emergency responders' efforts by leading the U.S. response to natural and man-made incidents, conducting mass search and rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of and incident, and assisting with stabilization and restoration of community lifelines immediately following an incident. This program supports DHS Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience, Objective 5.2: “Respond During Incidents” as provided in the DHS Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2020-2024. https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf. This program also supports Goal 3 of the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan: Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation, https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan. The objective of this Cooperative Agreement is to provide for the sustainment and readiness of the System and local jurisdictions, through the funding of administration and management, training, equipment, and storage and maintenance. Performance Measures Performance will be evaluated annually through the FEMA US&R Annual Self-Evaluation; the Self-Evaluation results will be validated triennially through the FEMA US&R Administrative Readiness Evaluation (ARE). Factors to be evaluated: Operations • Complement of Rostered Task Force Members • Complement of Trained Task Force Members • Complement of Deployable Task Force Members • Complement of Deployable Canine Search Specialist Teams • Members Participating in Annual Training and Exercises • Members Participating in Training/Drill Sessions Logistics • Complement of Cache Equipment Items • Adequacy of Transportation Resources • Cache Mobilization – Training/Exercise

Who Can Apply

• Government - General
• Other public institution/organization

Only the 28 sponsoring agencies currently designated by FEMA as members of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System are eligible for readiness and response cooperative agreements.

Who Benefits

• Private nonprofit institution/organization
• State
• Local

Only the 28 sponsoring agencies currently designated by FEMA as members of the US&R are eligible for readiness and response cooperative agreements.

Assistance Types

• Project Grants

Program Contact

elwood.ey-111@fema.dhs.gov
(202) 258-9722