Photo By Sgt. Thomas Belton | A technician from Indiana Task Force One directs a Micro Tactical Ground Robot with the handheld computer as it searches a collapsed structure to search for survivors during Vibrant Response '14 July 25. Indiana Task Force One is an urban search and rescue team that uses the Micro Tactical Ground Robot during search and rescue training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Ind. see less
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MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, INDIANA, UNITED STATES
MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - Members of Indiana Task Force One (TF1) used power tools, such as chainsaws and pneumatic drills, to breach concrete walls during Exercise Vibrant Response ‘14 Wednesday. It’s all part of the training conducted during this exercise to better prepare for natural and man-made disasters. The task force is composed of police officers, firefighters and paramedics and is one of 28 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urban search and rescue teams in the country.
Vibrant Response is a joint exercise providing a realistic environment to bolster interoperability with local, state, federal and Department of Defense (DOD) organizations.
“It’s good training,” said Tony Knights, an Evansville, Indiana firefighter assigned to TF1. “It’s definitely good to get out and have the opportunity to have this hands-on training.”
One of the many tools available to the task force is the Micro Tactical Ground Robot, equipped with video cameras and capable of entering restricted areas members of TF1 would not be able to see or enter on their own.
“The robot is helping us with a recon operation,” said Chris Hemphill, a search team manager with the task force. “It’s for searching for hazardous materials and environments.”
U.S. Army North conducts VR ‘14 annually to train and test the capabilities of local, state and federal emergency services.
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