[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 146 (Monday, October 29, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE AND 
THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE WHO HAVE JOINED IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER 
                                RESPONSE

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                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 29, 2001

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions 
of Hamilton County's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force and the 
eighteen members of the Task Force who joined with Ohio Task Force 1 
(Oh-TF1) to assist in the rescue and relief efforts at the World Trade 
Center site in New York City.
  The Hamilton County USAR Task Force was formed in December, 1997. The 
primary mission of the Task Force is to assist local fire and emergency 
medical agencies in large-scale rescue situations and emergency 
incidents associated with natural disasters, terrorist activity and 
major industrial, technological and transportation accidents. This team 
continues Cincinnati's long, proud history of being a national leader 
in fire and emergency services.
  In addition to assisting in local incidents, members of the Hamilton 
County USAR Task Force are part of Oh-TF1, one of twenty-eight Federal 
Emergency Management Agency USAR Task Forces capable of responding to 
massive structural collapses to search for and rescue trapped persons. 
Ohio Task Force 1 deployed sixty-two members to the World Trade Center 
site in New York. These members represented thirty-three fire 
organizations in Ohio. Seventeen of these members represented six 
Hamilton County Fire Departments, including: Anderson Fire Department; 
Cincinnati Fire Department; Colerain Township Fire Department; Green 
Township Fire Department; Madeira and Indian Hill Fire Department; and 
Sycamore Township Fire Department. An additional member of the Hamilton 
County USAR Task Force and Oh-TF1 is a rigging specialist for Carlisle 
Construction in Northern Kentucky.
  The members of Oh-TF1 worked non-stop from September 12 to September 
20 at a scene described by its members as ``devastating.'' The Task 
Force was divided into two groups that worked alternating twelve-hour 
shifts. As the third USAR Task Force on the scene, Oh-TF1's work was 
critical to the on-going recovery and relief efforts.
  Like the rest of America, I am moved by the bravery and selfless work 
of our nation's emergency services personnel. I am especially proud and 
appreciative of their work after seeing, firsthand, the horrific and 
truly devastating site in New York.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the 
outstanding work of Hamilton County's USAR Task Force and Oh-TF1 as we 
also recognize the remarkable contributions and sacrifices made by all 
of the people who make up our nation's emergency services in the wake 
of the September 11 attack.

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