The DART Reconnaissance Team helps find victims in an emergency situation.

There is an old saying in search and rescue … "if you can't find them, you can't rescue them". This is the job of the Reconnaissance Team. In Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) the Reconnaissance team is made up of Search Team Managers, Hazardous Materials Specialists, Structural Specialists, Canine Search Specialists, Technical Search Specialists and a Rescue Specialist.

The Structural Specialist will look at a potential search area and determine if it is safe for personnel to enter. Special markings are placed on the building to indicate its status, "Safe to Enter", "Safe to Enter With Caution", Unsafe to Enter. Once this is has been determined, the HazMat Specialist will check for any hazardous materials that might be present. If it is judged to be safe to enter, the Canine Search Specialists will have their dogs search the area. Any indication of live human scent by the first canine will be independently verified by a second canine. If confirmed, the location with be marked and indicated on a map. Technical Search Specialists will descend on the area with search cameras and acoustic sound devices to attempt to pinpoint the exact location of the victim and determine their physical status. Rescue Specialists will stay at that location until a Rescue Squad can enter and begin the rescue.

The above is a simplified example of the concept of the Search and Recon team. NASA Ames' Reconnaissance personnel are normally cross-trained to function in several different specialties.

Here are a couple of pictures of the Reconnaissance in action.

Overview of the Federal Building Marking System:

• Building Markings — CA OEC/FEMA (383Kb)