USAR COORDINATION METHODOLOGY
SECTOR
IDENTIFICATION
• Default INSARAG sector identification system
uses simple lettering system to code each
sector; A, B, C, D and so on.
• Local name or description can also be added to
ensure clarity e.g. Sector A, North Padang.
• If LEMA has own coded sector identification
system in place e.g. Sector 1, 2, 3, or Red, Blue,
Green etc., it should be adopted and allow for it
in any documentation or markings.
SECTOR IDENTIFICATION
SECTOR IDENTIFICATION
SECTORISING
USING
STREETS AND
CITY BLOCK
LAYOUTS
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SECTORISING
USING
PROMINENT
GEOGRAPHICAL
FEATURES
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WORKSITE
• Any site where significant USAR operations are
carried out.
• When there is thought to be the potential for
a live rescue.
• Typically be one building where one USAR
team or squad is working because of potential
live rescue.
• But a worksite could be much larger or much
smaller.
• A large building or complex of buildings, e.g. a
hospital, may be identified as single worksite.
• A single rescue in an area of only few square
metres would also be identified as worksite.
WORKSITE
• A site will that needs significant USAR
operations, Worksite Identification
(Worksite ID) should be given.
• Enhances the use of primary geographical
identification that should be the existing
street name and building number, when
possible.
• Done during Sector Assessment but sites
may also be allocated by LEMA.
WORKSITE
• Each site should be allocated its own
Worksite ID using following protocol:
• First part is Sector letter allocated to
the area the site is in e.g. A.
• Worksite is identified a number is then
sequentially allocated 1, 2, 3, etc.
• The sector letter and allocated number
produces the unique Worksite ID e.g. A-1,
A-2, A-3 etc.
WORKSITE
• If more than one team in same sector, UCC
will instruct teams on which numbers to
use e.g. Team 1 uses 1 to 20, Team 2 uses
21 to 40 etc.
• If LEMA uses a different sector code, e.g.
numbers, then this should be used as the
first part of the Worksite ID, e.g. 1-1 rather
than A-1.
• Sector code must be separated from the
worksite number by a hyphen to prevent
any possible confusion.
WORKSITES
WORKSITES
WITHIN
WORKSITE
USAR TEAM IDENTIFICATION CODE
• Team Identification Code is composed of
two parts:
• The three-letter Olympic code of the
home country of the team
• A number to differentiate teams from
the same country
• For IEC classified teams the number will
be decided by the home country at the
time of classification and registered in the
INSARAG USAR Team Directory.
• Eg. SGP-1, MAS-1, AUS-1.
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• For non-IEC classified
teams, the same country
code system will be used;
however, the number will
be assigned by the RDC
based upon sequence of
arrival, starting from the
number ten.
• Under this process the
issue of a Team ID is
temporary and is retained
only for the duration of
that specific deployment.
• E.g. SGP-10, SGP-11,
SGP-12, MAS-10, AUS-10
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• If a country indicates to
INSARAG that they do not want
the three-letter Olympic
country code issued to teams,
the following process will be
used:
• The letters ―SAR‖ (search
and rescue) will be used to
replace any country code
• Followed by a number
starting at 10 – this may
involve multiple countries
• E.g. SAR-10 (country 1),
SAR-11 (country 2) etc.
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USAR TEAM
IDENTIFICATION
CODE
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Level 1: Wide Area Assessment
Level 2: Sector Assessment
ASR LEVEL Level 3: Rapid Search and Rescue
Level 4: Full Search and Rescue
Level 5: Total Coverage Search and
Recovery
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• The preliminary survey of the affected or assigned area. For
the purpose of:
• Determining the scope and magnitude of the incident
• Identifying scope, location and types of damage
• Estimating the urgent resource needs
• Developing a sectorisation plan
• Establishing priorities
• Identifying general hazards
ASR LEVEL 1 • Identifying infrastructure issues
• Identifying potential BoO locations
• Usually accomplished by; vehicle, helicopter, waterborne
craft, on foot or from reports from others e.g. the LEMA.
• Initial, fast visual check of the damaged or assigned area.
• Teams carrying out this level of assessment must remain
mobile, not engage in rescue operations and report the
results as quickly as possible.
Identify specific and viable live rescue sites within the
allocated sector
Allow assignment prioritisation and make a plan of action
Fast paced but methodical assessment
Assess the whole sector in a timely manner
ASR LEVEL 2
Worksite Triage form is used to gather the essential
information
Information from local population and local responders is
often valuable and should be sought during the assessment
Rescues are not usually performed during this level unless an
unexpected opportunity arises
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• If live victims are found the decision on whether the
Assessment Team stays to start the rescue or carries on
the assessment will be dependent on the situation
• Some options are:
• Additional resources are called in to carry out the
rescue
• The Assessment team stays but must ensure the
sector Assessment is completed by others as soon
ASR LEVEL 2 as possible
• Adopt a strategy to send a combined team able to
do both ASR Level 2 sector Assessment and ASR
Level 3 Rapid Search and Rescue
• An ASR Level 2 Assessment can be repeated later if it is
thought necessary, e.g. a night time assessment or an
assessment with additional dogs, which may produce
different results.
Applies in early stages of large scale event
Relatively small number of teams available
Teams are assigned to one or multiple worksites
(identified during Level 2 Sector Assessment)
ASR LEVEL 3 Fairly rapid progress
Ensure allocated structures are all searched relatively
quickly
Maximise lifesaving opportunities
• Search and rescue ops:
• Physical, canine or technical search
• Rescue ops using debris removal and limited
shoring, breaking and breaching etc.
• Limited penetration into structure/rubble
ASR LEVEL 3 • Complete within one operational period, e.g. a few
hours
• Not normally undertake long term operations (more
than one operational period)
Identify structures or worksites where Level 4
search might be worthwhile
May extend to Level 4 operations, if confirmed
deeply trapped live victim is identified
ASR LEVEL 3 Must ensure Level 3 work completed before
proceed next level on end
If additional rescue sites are identified, then
new Worksite ID should be created
Identify, locate and rescue small number of heavily
trapped or entombed survivors
Can be single worksite or small number of worksites
Penetrate into most or all of the survivable voids
ASR LEVEL 4 Likely to be longer term (more than one operational
period)
May involve several teams on the same worksite
Complete command and control of worksite needed
• Search and rescue ops:
• New access discovered, search techniques and
equipment are repeated
• Extensive shoring to make structure or access
routes safe
• Heavy and repeated breaking and breaching on
ASR LEVEL 4 different types of structural elements
• Lifting and/or moving of large elements
• Delayering may take place at this level to identify
access to locate potential live rescue
• Working in confined spaces deep inside structures
ASR LEVEL 5
• This level can also apply to areas where damage is less but USAR skills are needed for access or safety
to enable complete clearance of all possible victims. In this case the operations will include:
• Systematic search of every room of every structure in the assigned area of operation.
• This operation should quickly clear relatively large areas.
• If necessary forced entry is used to gain access to all areas
• Heavy machinery may occasionally be needed to clear smaller rubble piles
• This may specifically be for deceased victim location/recovery.
• The rules of engagement (brief) have to detail what teams do if they locate a live or deceased victim,
e.g. call in other teams or stay and deal with it themselves.
• Full control and coordination is needed with detailed recording by the teams of the exact areas they
have cleared.
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