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Obligations of Classified USAR Teams

A USAR team can deploy in a lighter capacity than classified.

If a heavy Team responds as a medium or light Team (or a medium Team responds as a light Team), this has to be prepared and declared in the PoE and when deploying, announced on the VOSOCC, its USAR team fact sheet and on any other relevant documents or forms.

Following successful IEC/R, to maintain currency for the five-year period of classification, classified USAR teams are expected to meet certain obligations including but not limited to the following:

  • Have access to and be able to work with ICMS.
  • Deploy to at least one international incident or participate regularly in INSARAG Regional Earthquake Simulation Exercises.
  • USAR teams are expected to respond in the configuration in which it was classified. The exception is when at the request of the affected country the heavy team elects to respond as a medium or light team (or medium responds as light). If a team responds at a capacity less than its classification, the following applies:
    • The USAR team Management has a responsibility to clearly declare its response capacity on the VOSOCC and modify their USAR team fact sheet accordingly.
    • The USAR team is required to remove or cover over its IEC/R Patch to avoid confusion in the affected country (unless a heavy team will be responding in a medium team configuration). This provision also applies when a USAR team deploys as other than a USAR teams, meaning it deploys only parts of its team (as example search, or medical, or communications).
    • The INSARAG Secretariat will request a written report from the INSARAG Policy/Operational Focal Point as to why the team did not respond according to its classification (unless a heavy Team responded in a medium team configuration). This report will then be tabled for review at the next ISG Meeting.
  • When responding to international disasters, the USAR team has to comply with INSARAG methodology and minimum standards.
  • Conduct an annual simulated USAR response FIELDEX.
  • The USAR team, its Focal Points and/or representatives of its sponsoring organisation are required to be active participants in annual INSARAG activities:
    • USAR Team Leaders Meeting.
    • INSARAG Regional Group Meetings.
    • Earthquake Simulation (SIMEX) Response Exercises.
  • Support the IEC/R process
    • Provide minimum 3-5 IEC/R appropriate classifiers in five years.
    • Willingly share information with other USAR teams that are developing a response capacity.
    • Arrange bilateral assistance to other teams requiring mentors.
    • Willingly share information with other INSARAG USAR teams that are preparing for a classification.
    • The INSARAG Policy/Operational Focal Point is required to immediately inform the INSARAG Secretariat of any changes within the USAR team and its support framework that may fundamentally affect its capacity to function at its classified level. Based on a review of the structural changes within the USAR team, the INSARAG Secretariat may determine that they are required to undergo a new classification (IEC) or reclassification (IER).

If the USAR team does not meet these expectations, the INSARAG Secretariat will require the INSARAG Policy Focal Point to provide written documentation to explain the reasons for non-adherence. Depending on the circumstances, the case may be passed on to the ISG for determination, which could include the team being declassified.

Non-adherence to the obligations of classified USAR teams will also negatively impact on a USAR team’s reclassification, meaning it may not be scheduled for an IER (see INSARAG Guidelines Volume 2).

Regarding capacity building/development, classified USAR teams are strongly encouraged to assist their own national and NGO teams and that of other countries to develop USAR capacities at the national level to INSARAG standards.