The State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance or SUSAR is a non-profit organization designed to promote and support state urban search and rescue teams across the United States.
Background SUSAR started informally with discussion between the task force leaders of several states, including South Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Illinois. They decided that state level teams would benefit from a more formal exchange of ideas."Director's report," Urban Search and Rescue South Carolina Task Force 1, January 10, 2006. Accessed August 4, 2007."Allied Response," Fire Chief, December 1, 2006. Accessed August 4, 2007. The first meeting was in South Carolina in July 2005, and 18 states were represented, as well as Puerto Rico."LLR Fire Academy Hosts Rescue Summit," South Carolina Fire Academy, Accessed August 4, 2007. By the second meeting the group had grown to 26 states. The State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance was formally adopted in August 2006 in Charlotte, North Carolina."History of SUSAR," State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance Official Website, Accessed August 4, 2007. As of March 2007, 41 states have joined the Alliance."State Urban Search and Rescue (SUSAR) Alliance Has Formed," SAR News, March 2007. Accessed August 4, 2007. The ninth meeting and conference will take place November 8–10, 2011 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Statement of purpose
Board of trustees Chairman R.B. Ellis - Oklahoma Vice-chairman Scott Merbach – Maryland Secretary-Treasurer Tina Toney - Oregon Doug Cooper - Alabama Scott Pierson – Illinois James Bastan - New Jersey Ronnie Register – Georgia Ron Zawlocki – Michigan David Martin – Texas Brian Toolan - Connecticut Dirk Christian – Kansas Ken Craft - Florida
See also Urban Search and Rescue Urban Search and Rescue South Carolina Task Force 1 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force
References
External links State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance Official Website Federal Emergency Management Agency National Urban Search and Rescue Program