Urban Search Team Ready to Respond If Building Collapses, High Rescue Needed

CREST HAVEN – A collapsed building, confined space or high-angle rescue anywhere in Cape May County would bring response from one of two R.U.S.T. units, along with the local fire department. 
County Fire Marshal Conrad Johnson explained the working of the county’s Regional Urban Search Team to freeholders May 10.
County Emergency Management Coordinator Martin Pagliughi, who introduced Johnson, said the program is not new, it began with a $500,000 grant in 2008 to purchase equipment for specialized rescues. Initially, the gear was stored at the county Fire Academy.
“Last year we decided to get moving on this,” said Pagliughi. Similar to the regional S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics) units staffed by police, the R.U.S.T. units are located in Ocean City and Wildwood. Both cities have paid fire departments, and thus can respond quickly in their region.
After meeting with Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Breunig, Wildwood Fire Chief Chris D’Amico, and Wildwood Deputy Chief Dan Spiegel and Johnson, Pagliughi said the team of 25 fully-trained volunteers from various departments organized in 2015.
“This is something the county needed because they learned a lesson when the parking garage collapsed in Atlantic City and workers were trapped. It took four hours to get the regional search team on site,” Pagliughi said. He referred to the Oct. 30, 2003, accident when a parking garage under construction in Atlantic City, collapsed, killing four construction workers and injuring 21 others.
Pagliughi noted R.U.S.T. was “Another in emergency management’s toolbox.”
Johnson said the team was trained by Task Force 1, the New Jersey State Police rescue team, located in Lakehurst. That unit was “One of the first teams onsite in New York City on 9-11. Our equipment models theirs.” The unit works, “hand-in-hand” with the state unit, Johnson said. The reason was because the local team wanted to work “seamlessly” with the state unit should the occasion arise.
“Training is intense and ongoing,” Johnson added. The unit is a cooperative effort between the fire departments, county Office of Emergency management and county Fire Marshal’s Office and county Fire Chiefs Association.
Because the state’s unit has received the highest status attainable from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, that team, including Cape May County members, “could be deployed to other countries, such as recent earthquakes. They could come from New Jersey or our county team members. They are trained and equipped,” Johnson said.
Team members are notified by text message or phone.
When Coast Guard Training Center Cape May’s Fire Chief Chris Walters learned of the opportunity, he “jumped on board,” Johnson added.
The state unit has 300 members. The local unit “targeted 35 as a goal.” That number would allow the group to function and have a backup if needed.
Spiegel, who followed Johnson, stressed the reason to split the team was to permit immediate response, north or south. Since November 2015, the team had six training sessions.
Policies and procedures have been established to enable the team to enter any fire district to aid the local department, Spiegel said.
That procedure would include alerting the county central dispatch center which would then “tone out” either the Wildwood or Ocean City unit.
Spiegel showed photos of a recent drill of a confined space rescue at the Ocean City MUA pumping station and a Villas structure, slated for demolition, that was used to train for a collapsed structure.
“Thirty years ago we (fire departments) put fires out. You name it today, fire companies get the call,” said Pagliughi.
The team issued a release May 12 that it had “completed high-angle rope rescue training at the Lower Township MUA water tower,” at Cape May County Airport, Erma. The training consisted of an injured utility worker stuck inside the water tower approximately 80 feet above ground.
The release stated “Training would not be possible without the continuous support from freeholders, county Office of Emergency Management, county Fireman’s Association and local businesses. The team extended appreciation for support to South State, Action Supply, Rio Grande Lowes, A&C Septic Services and the county MUA.