Missouri Task Force 1’s Kent Cunningham

1. What is Missouri Task Force 1? MOTF-1 is an urban search and rescue task force through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), based in Boone County, Mo., and we have 210 members. Today, there are 28 national task forces staffed and equipped to conduct round-the-clock searches and rescue operations for earth quakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and catastrophic structural failures.

Task force members work in four areas of specialization: search to find victims trapped after a disaster; rescue, which includes safely digging victims out of tons of collapsed concrete and metal; technical, which is made up of structural specialists who make rescues safe; and medical, which cares for the victims before and after the rescue.

2. How did you get involved? How long have you been involved? I started about 9 years ago. I had heard the County was getting some tractor trailers for a special program called Missouri Task Force 1 and I wanted to get involved. I talked with Steve Paulsell, the Boone County Fire Chief a the time. He saw a fit and I was in.

3. Who makes the decisions of where and when the task force goes somewhere? FEMA is the organization Missouri Task Force 1 takes direction from. Within the organization, there are task force leaders and safety officers for our various teams: search, rescue, medical, hazardous materials, logistics and planning.

4. Basically, how does the process work? Who gives the orders to go? How do you know where to go? Anywhere there is a disaster, FEMA will put on notice the closest three Task Force organizations based on who is on rotation that month. We are alerted by cell phone to be aware we may be deployed. Once that alert comes and we’re activated, we have four hours to report and be on our way.

MOTF-1 is capable of performing operations from conducting physical search and rescue operations in damaged structures to providing disaster communication support using state-of-the-art satellite systems. We also provide emergency medical care at disaster sites, carry out reconnaissance duties to assess damage and determine needs, conduct hazardous material surveys and assist in stabilizing damaged structures.

5. Do you connect with other agencies? If so, who? We work with local, state and federal agencies when the disasters are big enough—for example Hurricane Katrina and the Tornado that impacted Joplin, Mo.

6. How is the task force funded? We’re funded through FEMA.

7. What type of training does the task force entail? There is curriculum to study, tests you have to pass, there are weekends set aside to run practice drills, and real life scenarios, along with rigorous physical exercises. Being in shape plays a role in your mental and physical well being when on the site of a catastrophic loss. The minimum requirements to be a member of the MOTF-1 include CPR certification, emergency medical technician certification and completion of the FEMA Structural Collapse Technician course.

Once a year we set aside a three day weekend (24/7) boot camp for additional training. We are engaged, active and learning new techniques during this time.

8. What types of assets and materials does the task force have at its disposal? $3.5 million dollars of equipment; saws to cut concrete, cameras used to access areas where a hole has been drilled, personal protective equipment, vehicles and more.

9. What are some of the latest trips the task force has taken? We just got back from Loveland, CO where we assisted in rescue and evacuation providing assistance in airlifting residents stranded due to the loss of roads. We’ve also been deployed for other federal and state disasters, including Hurricanes Isabel, Dennis, Katrina (twice), Ernesto, Dean, Dolly, Ike and Sandy; the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 and the 2008 Republican National Convention. Within Missouri, we were deployed to the 2006 building collapse in Clinton, the 2008 Piedmont floods, the 2008 Newton County tornado, the 2010 Fort Leonard Wood tornado and the 2011 Joplin tornado.

10. What has been the most rewarding experience for you, personally, since getting involved? People genuinely appreciate the work we do. I have had people shake my hand and tell me thank you, there is no better feeling than knowing you are making a positive difference in people’s lives.

11. What is the jurisdiction in which the task force operates? How far do you all go? Although we can be deployed though out the USA and internationally, the main focus for me has been more the Midwest and Gulf Coast.