Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby announced Monday the department’s Urban Search and Rescue Program, California Task Force-2, will provide international disaster response efforts for another five years.
The department has had a partnership with the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance since 2003, and the latest cooperative agreement will go into effect on Dec. 1 and last five years, according to Cpt. Ron Haralson.
The agreement “allows the department and its personnel to provide emergency response and technical assistance around the world,” Haralson said.
The department’s team assisted with humanitarian response efforts in the Bahamas for Hurricane Dorian in 2019, as well as in Mexico City after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck in 2017.
“I am extremely proud of the members of our urban search and rescue team,” Osby said. “This accomplishment was made possible by their hard work, dedication and innovation. We are honored to continue our partnership with USAID and provide urban search and rescue services around the world.”