California Task Force 5
Mission & Mission-Ready Posture
CA-TF5’s purpose is to rescue individuals trapped in collapsed structures, hazardous materials incidents, floods, or other disasters. The Task Force responds rapidly (within six hours of activation) to provide specialized search and rescue, medical care, structural evaluation, and hazard mitigation support.
CA-TF5 is equipped and trained to operate self-sufficiently for up to 72 hours, including personnel, equipment, and logistics. It can be deployed as either a Type I (full 70- person) or Type III (smaller 35-person) team, depending on mission needs.
Personnel
CA-TF5 is composed of the Program Manager, Grants Manager, Cache Manager, and Senior Administrative Assistant, as well as the following sections:
- Canine Section (Live Find and Human Remains Detection)
- Communications Section
- Hazardous Materials Section
- Heavy Equipment Rigging Specialists (HERS)
- Logistics Section
- Medical Section
- Plans Section
- Rescue Section
- Safety Officers
- Search Section
- Structural Specialists
- Task Force Leaders
- Transportation Section
Equipment & Logistics
CA-TF5 maintains a comprehensive equipment cache (~60,000 lb), including tools for search (e.g., listening devices), rescue (e.g., saws, airbags), medical supplies, communications gear, and support materials. This cache enables autonomous operations for days after deployment.
Specialized Capabilities
- WMD Response: CA-TF5 is certified to respond to incidents involving chemical, radiological, or biological agents.
- Water-Rescue Integration: While primarily structural‐collapse focused, CA-TF5 contributes to combined operations involving swiftwater and flood rescues alongside those specialized units.
Deployments & Response History
CA-TF5’s operational record demonstrates its readiness and versatility. Notable deployments include:
- 1994 Northridge Earthquake (Los Angeles, CA)
- 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing
- Major Hurricanes: Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Harvey, Florence
- 2021 Surfside Condominium Collapse (Florida)
More recent activations include:
- Hurricane Helene (2024)
- Hurricane Milton (2024)
