Title
Accept and Disburse Funds from Federal Emergency Management Agency for AZ-TF1 Urban Search & Rescue Efforts Associated with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma (Ordinance S-44020)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to accept emergency funds totaling $3,061,600 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Arizona Task Force One (AZ-TF1) Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) efforts associated with their deployment to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Further request to accept additional monies that may become available from FEMA for these efforts. Authorization is also requested for the City Controller to disburse all associated funds.
Report
Summary
FEMA was established in 1991 to respond to national disasters. In 1992, FEMA selected the Phoenix Fire Department to participate as one of the seven initial task force response teams by establishing AZ-TF1. The City of Phoenix Fire Department is the sponsoring agency for AZ-TF1, one of 28 FEMA National US&R Response System task forces. AZ-TF1 has rapidly deployed skilled personnel and state-of-the-art equipment to sites of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and building collapses such as Oklahoma City, 9/11, Hurricanes Rita, Ike, and Gustav. In addition to search and rescue, task force members provide immediate medical treatment to survivors, and hazardous materials (HazMat) monitoring and stabilization capabilities. Each US&R task force is deployable 24 hours a day/seven days per week, and is required to maintain a condition of continued preparedness and operational readiness.
On Aug. 26, 2017, 80 members of the AZ-TF1 received activation orders from FEMA to deploy to Houston, Texas to conduct search and rescue efforts after Hurricane Harvey. The team initially included 72 Phoenix firefighters, three Phoenix police officers, and five civilian support staff. AZ-TF1 is equipped with semi-trucks, logistical/rescue equipment, structural collapse/water rescue gear, boat trailers, and boats/motors, and generators and fuel. Personnel included highly trained specialists in structural collapse, medical response, water rescue, high angle rescue, canine search and rescue, and hazardous materials experts. The deployment was extended after Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida on Sept. 9, 2017.
Financial Impact
This request is to accept and disburse emergency funds from FEMA for reimbursement to the City of Phoenix for costs associated with AZ-TF1's deployment to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
FEMA funds for Hurricane Harvey: $1,561,600
FEMA funds for Hurricane Irma: $1,500,000
TOTAL: $3,061,600
Location
Out of City.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. and the Fire Department.