FAQs

​​

Expand AllCollapse All

  •   Where do we get all of the TX-TF1 members?

    • Although many of our members are firefighters with volunteer and career departments, TX-TF1 is made comprised of many individuals from various professional backgrounds, from fire and police to IT support and petroleum engineers.  TX-TF1 does not pull personnel from any single department or organization but rather from over 72 agencies and companies.  This unique blending of professionals from across the spectrum provides TX-TF1 with a broad array of experiences and ideas when the Task Force is asked to help those in need. Members must live within 3 hours of College Station.

  •   What is a Type 1, Type 3, and a QRF team?

    • Type 1 – A FEMA Type 1 US&R Team consists of a 70-person team capable of 24-hour operations. Designed to be logistically self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of operation, a Type 1 team is able to function for 10 to 14 days under remote and austere conditions with support.
      Type 3       – A Type 3 US&R Team consists of a 31-person team capable of 12-hour operations, with the robust communications capabilities, specialized search devices, and rescue cache to perform light breaching and breaking.

      Quick Response Force – A Quick Response Force (QRF) is a small, fast-moving force that can be pre-deployed to areas that will be overwhelmed by the effects of manmade or natural disasters. It provides specialized resources to assist local jurisdictions with search and rescue (SAR) of victims affected by the disasters. The focus of this force is to provide pre-incident SAR (for notice events) and “quick strike” capability to ensure maximum survivability of victims. The QRF is a “Special Operations” branch of TX-TF1 and its intent is to be fast-moving for quick rescues and information-gathering. QRF members use specialized search and rescue tools with transportation assets for both land and water SAR. Members on the QRF are fully qualified in Swiftwater and flood rescue operations.

  •   Why don’t we fight fires?

    • Although many of our members are firefighters with volunteer and career departments, the Task Force is not tasked by the state to provide that service.

  •   What does it take to be a Texas Task Force 1 member?

    • Members are chosen from applicants that meet the general requirements of the position they have applied for.  Open positions are not common but persons that meet all of the position description requirements (or meet more than one position description) and who have experience in that position will be considered. Individuals that meet the position specific requirements can expect an interview.

Submit a question

Do you have a question that is not answered here? Please submit your questions to us.

Submit my question

Submit a question