September 19, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2012-66) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org US&R TEAM PASSES SURPRISE EVALUATION On September 12 & 13 a pilot, on-site Administrative Readiness Evaluation (ARE) was conducted of Urban, Search and Rescue (US&R) Team, Alabama Task Force One (AL-TF1). The purpose of the evaluation was to obtain a thorough assessment of AL-TF1’s response capabilities compared to the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System’s Readiness and Exercise Evaluation Program. Federal ARE members consisted of FEMA’s US&R Branch Director and US&R Operations Branch Section Chief both from Washington, DC and three Federal Task Force representatives from Florida, Colorado, and Utah. Three main areas of focus during the evaluation were in Operational Readiness, Logistics, and Administrative Management of the team. AL-TF1 was determined to be “Fully Operational” as a Type I US&R Task Force using the FEMA US&R Evaluation process. The ARE Team identified several “best practices”, used by AL-TF1 and noted the “significant financial and administrative support by the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department under the direction of Fire Chief Stephen Dean”. "The City of Mobile has enabled AL-TF1 to develop a robust US&R capability for the citizens of Mobile, the State of Alabama, and the Gulf Coast region.” AL-TF1 consists of 204 rostered members with 192 fully trained from professional, industrial, and volunteer fire departments, along with civilian physicians, engineers, nurses and search dog handlers. ###