It was 21 years ago when the first international urban search and rescue mission deployed from the United States.
Lieutenant Michael Regan, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, provides the story from Virginia Task Force 1′s history:
On December 7, 1988, an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter Scale struck the Spitak region of then Soviet Armenia at 1141 local time. Spitak, a city of 25,000, was completely destroyed. The city of Leninakan, with a population of 300,000, and the towns of Stepanavan and Kirovakan were heavily damage.
At the time of the earthquake, Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev was at a meeting at the UN in New York City. President Ronald Reagan offered to send a U. S. rescue team and humanitarian aid to the area and Gorbachev accepted.
It was the first time since WWII that the Soviet Union received aid from the United States.
On December 10, 1988, a team made up from 12 firefighters from Fairfax County, Virginia, 12 from Dade County, Florida, and structural expert Dr. Fred Krimgold were sent to Leninakan, Armenia. It is estimated the earthquake killed 25,000 to 35,000 people.
Facing extremely cold temperatures, the US rescue team worked for seven days and rescued two of the last five people recovered alive from collapsed buildings. The team was commanded by Battalion Chief Michael Tamillow (now retired).
Florida Task Force 1 (HERE)
USAID Disaster Assistance (HERE)
Added:
United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG)
(09 March 30) “Challenges in world USAR” Industrial Fire World interview about INSARAG.
Czech Republic USAR response in 1988 (HERE)
Mike “FossilMedic” Ward
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