Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 2
Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 2 is one of the 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces. Based in Virginia Beach, VA-TF2 is sponsored by the Virginia Beach Fire Department.
The department has two heavy rescue apparatus fitted with specialized equipment designed for technical rescue incidents. The primary technical rescue squad, Fire Rescue 2, has additional equipment including high angle rope rescue equipment, extrication tools, concrete and wood cutting tools, torches and other cutting implements, retrieval systems and confined space equipment. The VBFD Technical Rescue Team is trained to meet NFPA 1670 Technician Level standards.Deployments
VA-TF2 has taken part in the following deployments:
- Tornado outbreak - Petersburg, Virginia
- Oklahoma City bombing - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Summer Olympics - Atlanta, Georgia
- Hurricane Fran - Carolina Coast, South Carolina
- Hurricane Georges - Gulf of Mexico
- Pentagon Attack - Arlington, Virginia
- Winter Olympics - Salt Lake City, Utah
- Hurricane Ivan - Orange Beach, Florida
- Hurricane Frances - Jacksonville, Florida
- Hurricane Katrina I - Waveland, Mississippi
- Hurricane Katrina II - New Orleans, Louisiana
- Hurricane Opal - Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Hurricane Ernesto - Jacksonville, Florida
- Hurricane Gustav - Houston, Texas
- Hurricane Ike - Houston, Texas
- Haiti earthquake - Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
- Hurricane Sandy - New York City, New York
