Maryland Task Force One
Maryland Task Force One
Maryland Task Force One, Maryland’s only federally sponsored Urban Search and Rescue team is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Initially formed as a local asset response team for trench collapse, the team was comprised of personnel who were assigned to the Rockville Fire Department.
After the Oklahoma City bombing in April of 1995, the Federal Government recognized the need to have regional rescue teams around the country that possessed the search and rescue capability required at complex incidents. The Federal Government sponsored 28 teams with training and equipment to respond to such incidents. All of the teams are configured with personnel trained in various disciplines, including technical search specialists, structural engineers, specialized technical rescue personnel, physicians, incident planning specialists and others that assist in mitigating these incidents.
These teams have responded to countless local and federal emergency incidents. Maryland Task Force One – MD-TF1 has responded on many of these incidents, such as, the Oklahoma City bombing, Columbia Shuttle Tragedy, Terrorist attack – Pentagon, countless hurricanes and numerous local jurisdiction responses.