US&R Baseline Training Program
The US&R Baseline Training Program includes all TEEX courses relevant for every member of a task force. These courses are appropriate for all responders who are a member of a US&R task force. These courses represent all the common courses required by all members of a FEMA Type 1 US&R Task Force.
Each course provides the participant with valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for a standardized level of training to successfully respond to various types of incidents, including a structural collapse, natural disaster, or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CBRNE) incident.
Each course is designed by module and includes terminal and enabling objectives for participants to accomplish. These courses are designed around current revisions to the National Response Framework and National Incident Management Systems (NIMS). All TEEX courses are fully compliant with all NIMS principles and the Incident Command System (ICS).
TEEX courses are specifically designed to meet a jurisdiction’s mission to accomplish specific requirements on the Target Capabilities List (TCL) and the Universal Task List (UTL), as well as meeting requirements of the appropriate National Planning Scenarios and National Preparedness Goal priorities.
US&R Baseline Training Program Courses:
WMD Enhanced US&R Operations – This 16-hour (2 day) course is designed to provide task force members training on standardized hazardous materials identification, protection, PPE donning, PPE doffing, and decontamination procedures. This course also standardizes how all other task force members will support the US&R Hazardous Materials Specialists.
Structural Collapse Awareness – This 8-hour (1 day) course is designed to provide responders with the knowledge required to identify and perform safely near a structural collapse incident. This course meets NFPA 1670 for structural collapse awareness.
Swiftwater Rescue Awareness – This 4-hour (half day) course is designed to provide responders an overview of the swiftwater and flood environment and prepare them to provide defensive shore based rescues. This course does not train the responder to enter the water, and all rescues are taught to be conducted from the safety of the shore.
Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations Training – These courses are designed to meet or exceed certification requirements as outlined in NFPA 1670 and NFPA 1006 for rope rescue. This course is managed by TEEX - Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI).
Confined Space Rescue Training – These courses are designed to meet or exceed certification requirements as outlined in NFPA 1670 and NFPA 1006 for confined space rescue. This course is managed by TEEX - Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI).
Permit-Required Confined Space Entry – This 31-hour (4 day) course is designed to increase participants knowledge of hazards associated with permit-required confined space entry. This course is managed by the TEEX – Infrastructure Training and Safety Institute (ITSI).
Trench Rescue Awareness and Operations Training – These courses are designed to meet or exceed certification requirements as outlined in NFPA 1670 and NFPA 1006 for trench rescue. This course is managed by TEEX - Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI).
Terrorism Awareness for Emergency First Responders (this course is offered online at no cost to any eligible participant) – This 4-hour course is designed to provide participants with knowledge of Hazardous Materials, Weapons of Mass Destruction and response to incidents involving these materials. This basic course provides an awareness overview for emergency responders when responding to a WMD incident. This course is managed by TEEX – Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI).
WMD/Terrorism Incident Defensive Operations for Emergency Responders (this course is offered at no cost to any eligible jurisdiction) – This 24-hour (3 day) course is designed to provide emergency responders defensive operation training when responding to a WMD incident and the unique personal protective challenges that responders face during such an incident. This course is managed by TEEX – Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI).
Emergency Management Concerns for the First Responder in Terrorism and Disaster (this course is offered online at no cost to any eligible participant) – This 1-hour course is designed to provide emergency responders with an introduction and awareness level overview of the importance of NIMS and its resources to improve response capabilities and efficiencies. This course is managed by TEEX – Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI).
Ordnance Recognition and Improvised Explosive Device Awareness – This 16-hour (2 day) course is designed to provide emergency responders training on how to identify and avoid secondary devices, including bombs, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordinance when responding to an incident. This course is managed by the TEEX – Public Safety and Security (PS&S) division.
Spanish for Emergency Responders – This 24-hour (3 day) course is designed to provide emergency responders a basic level of Spanish terms and phrases to use during a natural disaster or terrorist incident response. This course is managed by TEEX – Public Safety and Security (PS&S) division.
Fall Arrest Systems – This course is designed to meet or exceed certification requirements as outlined in OSHA requirements for fall protection. This course is managed by the TEEX – Infrastructure Training and Safety Institute (ITSI).
Courses can be conducted at your agency or jurisdiction or in Disaster City®, located in College Station, Texas. Disaster City® is a 52-acre urban search and rescue training facility and delivers the full array of skills and techniques needed by today’s US&R teams and emergency responders.
TEEX’s US&R training features instructors who have responded to some of the largest disasters on record, including the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, the space shuttle Columbia incident and Hurricane Katrina.
TEEX is the sponsoring agency for Texas Task Force 1, one of 28 national urban search and rescue teams under FEMA and is Texas’ only Type 1 statewide team under direction of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Texas Task Force 1 also includes one of the country’s most extensive water rescue programs.
