Elite US – Specialized American urban search-and-rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia; Los Angeles County, California; and Miami-Dade County, Florida have been activated by the U.S. Department of State and are heading to Venezuela after two major quakes struck off
A woman pulled from the rubble of a highrise building in Venezuela has become one of the few bright moments after this week’s earthquakes turned whole blocks into wreckage. Now, specialized American rescue teams are heading for the disaster area, activated for the mission by the U.S. Department of State as officials confront a toll that keeps climbing.
The deployments follow a pair of major quakes on June 25—measuring 7.5 and 7.2—striking within a minute of each other off the coast west of Caracas. The one-two impact has killed at least 235 people and wounded more than 4,300, with hundreds still trapped beneath damaged structures.
The U.S. emergency response includes urban search and rescue personnel from Fairfax County, Virginia; Los Angeles County, California; and Miami-Dade County, Florida. The teams are being deployed alongside a regional disaster assistance response team. with the Virginia units posting on Facebook that they were “honored to represent the United States in this mission. bringing our expertise. compassion and unwavering dedication to support those affected. ” adding: “When disaster strikes. we answer the call.”.
Los Angeles County’s 71-member team said it is sending 84. 000 pounds of equipment and six canine teams from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Los Angeles County Public Works and Los Angeles Health Services. In its own social media update, the unit said it was “proud and thankful to represent the U.S. on this mission.”.
Virginia’s 79-member team, which also includes six canines, said it arrived midday Friday. Earlier this week. the unit noted it had recently taken part in a strategic airlift exercise at Dover Air Force Base in partnership with the State Department and Air Mobility Command. The exercise was designed to improve deployment efficiency. using the logic that “when disaster strikes. every minute saved is a minute gained for those in need.”.
Miami-Dade’s 80-member Urban Search and Rescue Team—Florida Task Force 1—said it was set to depart for Venezuela Friday evening. The unit described itself as among the nation’s most experienced. pointing to past deployments after the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing. the collapse of the World Trade Center. Hurricane Katrina and the Surfside building collapse.
“From the moment we learned of this tragedy, our team has remained on standby, ready to respond,” the unit said. “Many in our community have family, friends, and loved ones in Venezuela, making this mission especially meaningful. We deploy with one purpose: to provide hope and help those affected during this difficult time.”.
The sequence of actions—State Department activation. rapid team departures tied to local readiness. and years of prior deployment experience—reflects how quickly search-and-rescue capability gets mobilized once the death toll and trapped victims become clear. With hundreds still beneath rubble after the June 25 quakes off the coast west of Caracas. the work now shifts from arrival plans to the search itself.
Venezuela earthquake U.S. Department of State urban search and rescue Fairfax County Task Force 1 Los Angeles County Fire Department Miami-Dade Florida Task Force 1 canine teams Dover Air Force Base exercise Caracas quakes