Iceland offers US Search-and-Rescue Capabilities
In the aftermath of the catastrophic hurricane Katrina, the Government of Iceland has offered the United States to send the Icelandic International Urban Search and Rescue Team (SAR-Team Iceland) to the affected areas. The Icelandic SAR-Team is a technical search and rescue team trained to work in collapsed buildings. It consists of approximately 25 people ready for rapid deployment to a disaster area at any given time. The Team is self sufficient for up to 10 days except fuel and transport. A medical doctor and paramedics come with the Team. The Team deployed to the August 1999 earthquake in Turkey and operated in Izmit in close co-operation with the US International SAR Team, VATF-1. The Team also trains in the field of urban search and rescue with the US team through an on-going exchange program between the two countries.
