Fairfax County, Virginia's Urban Search & Rescue Task Force, (VA-TF1), has adopted the Roam Secure Alert Network (RSAN) as the primary interoperable emergency communication tool for its task force members. VA-TF1 chose RSAN as its primary communication tool because of its reliability and ease of use. Task Force Managers can group users quickly and send messages to their e-mail, pager, cell phone, satellite phone, blackberry and other wireless devices with one click. They can also track replies and manage communication across all devices through one interface. Users can also communicate directly with others in the same fashion.

VA-TF1 is a 70-person unit of highly trained and skilled firefighters, paramedics, doctors, structural engineers, canine handlers and other specialists. Established in 1986, the team has responded to a variety of events throughout the world, including: earthquakes in Turkey, the Philippines and California; bombings at Oklahoma City and the U.S. Embassy in Kenya and the September 11th attack on the Pentagon. VA-TF1 is one of 28 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) task forces in the United States. (see www.vatf1.org)

Roam Secure and VA-TF1 are also working together to pilot a National Urban Search & Rescue Roam Secure Alert Network. The National US&R RSAN will connect the 28 US&R task forces spread around the country with a single, unified, interoperable, national system. Each task force can register their members on the pilot system to use as their own RSAN system. In addition, each task force will also be able to communicate with other task forces via the system. The goal is to make such a national system permanent and available for all US&R task forces and their members. To learn more about the pilot, contact Rick Tiene at 703.294.6768 x205.

The National Urban Search and Rescue Response System, established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1989 and now part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, structures local emergency services personnel in to 28 task forces across the nation. US&R task forces respond to structural collapses anywhere in the U.S. or the world. They played a key role in response and recovery during the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Additionally, VA-TF1, along with the team from Los Angeles, California, provides international response to disasters through an agreement with the United States Agency for International Development-Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.

The Roam Secure Alert Network is an interoperable, two-way emergency communication solution already actively used by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and other agencies throughout the county. RSAN is also actively used by many first responders, state, local and Federal government leaders throughout the National Capitol region, including Arlington County, Washington, DC and beyond.