About US&R
Urban search-and-rescue (US&R) involves the location, rescue
(extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in
confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims
being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation
accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.
Urban search-and-rescue is considered a "multi-hazard"
discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or
disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms and
tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist
activities, and hazardous materials releases. The events may be slow in
developing, as in the case of hurricanes, or sudden, as in the case of
earthquakes.
