A new law signed by Governor Beshear Tuesday will lead to the formation of a state Urban Search and Rescue team. Lieutenant Doug Hargreaves is the Lexington Fire Department’s executive officer for special operations. He said will include people with several different specialties and be a force multiplier for local first responders.
“When we went to these places in Mayfield, and also in east Kentucky. We ended up calling USAR teams from out of state Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Virginia. So all these teams had come to us.”
U-S-A-R stands for urban search and rescue. Hargreaves and Lexington Fire Captain Ryan Hogsden were among the first responders who lobbied for the new unit. Hargreaves said the state Urban Search and Rescue Team will have units around the state who can respond more quickly to disasters – something he saw while visiting Texas.
“A tornado had just touched down outside of Houston. And his task force was out the door in matter of minutes. So yes, I truly believe that these task forces in these teams will definitely make a difference in the state of Kentucky.”
Hargreaves said many of the new organization’s members already have jobs with their local fire department or emergency management agency.
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