With the lessons learned from previous floods in the County of Marin, and what had happened in other counties with levee systems, it was decided to add a water rescue element to the Marin County Urban Search and Rescue Team. This component is classified as a Type I Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Team (SF SAR Team).
All of the members from the SF SAR Team went to a week long class called Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1 and 2. Further training included inflatable rescue boat operations, personal watercraft operations, technical animal rescue, night river rescue training, and aquatic helicopter rescue training.
Equipment for the team includes: three Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRB), three personal watercrafts with attached rescue boards, personal protective equipment for each member, and technical rescue equipment.
The members of the SF SAR Team come from the following agencies: Marin County Fire Department, Marin County Department of Public Works, Novato Fire District, Kentfield Fire Protection District, Southern Marin Fire Protection District, National Park Service at Stinson Beach and the Pt. Reyes National Seashore.
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Thursday, September 9, 2010
