California Task Force 3, US&R

What California Task Force 3, US&R does

California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) is a federally-designated Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) task force operating under the FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue Response System and sponsored by the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in East Palo Alto, California, CA-TF3 delivers rapid, self-sufficient disaster response capabilities including structural collapse rescue, emergency medical care, hazardous materials handling, water rescue, canine search (live find and human remains detection), and reconnaissance/utility assessment. The task force deploys with 100,000 pounds of prepackaged search and rescue equipment, maintains a 6-hour deployment readiness posture, and is self-sufficient for 72 hours in the field. Its 210+ members are drawn from 18 fire agencies plus 40+ civilian specialists including physicians and structural engineers.

The organization's business model is non-commercial and operates on a publicly-funded cooperative basis. Annual funding is derived from two primary government streams: FEMA Cooperative Agreement funds of $1.32M–$1.43M (for readiness) and California State funding of $519k for mobilization exercises and general training. In May 2023, CA-TF3 established the California Task Force 3 Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 93-1496188), to broaden financial support through charitable donations. The go-to-market is event-driven, not sales-driven: CA-TF3 is deployed by FEMA and Cal OES in response to natural and man-made disasters, with pre-positioning common ahead of predictable events such as hurricanes. CA-TF3 charges no fees for its services and has no commercial distribution channels.

CA-TF3's customer base is effectively two principal institutional clients, both governmental: FEMA (federal) and the California Office of Emergency Services (state), with local government jurisdictions receiving mutual aid as a tertiary segment. The organization has documented 60+ deployments since 1991, including Hurricane Katrina, the World Trade Center response, and the Oklahoma City bombing. The operations are anchored by a small core paid staff (the firmographic reports 15 employees) with the larger 210+ member operational roster serving in a volunteer or sponsored-agency capacity. Distribution is entirely through the federal-state emergency response system rather than commercial channels.

Name

California Task Force 3, US&R

Legal name

California Task Force 3

Website

https://catf3.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) is a FEMA-designated Urban Search and Rescue task force sponsored by the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, delivering structural collapse rescue, canine search, and disaster response to federal and California state agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Response Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

akta.pro primary industry

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Response, Rescue & Tactical EMS (DMAT/USAR/SWAT/HAZMAT Medical) (HLAFANAH), Disaster Medical Assistance & Field Care (DMAT/Field Hospitals) (HLAJAGAE), State/Provincial Public Safety & Emergency Management (Police, Fire, EMS Oversight) (BPAIABAG)

Keywords

• Urban search rescue
• Emergency response services
• Disaster response teams
• Technical rescue operations
• Structural collapse rescue

Headquarters

HQ city

East Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. FEMA Cooperative Agreement Funds: The Federal Government has provided the Fire District between $1.32M to $1.43M each year with Cooperative Agreement Funds for the readiness of CA-TF3.
2. California State Funding: The State of California has been assisting the Fire District's Task Force by providing $100k every four years to offset the costs of a Mobilization Exercise (MobEx) for CA-TF3. This year the State is increasing these funds to $519k and is allowing excess funds to be utilized for general training requirements.
3. Foundation Donations: The California Task Force 3 Foundation (EIN 93-1496188) was created in May 2023 to raise funds and receive charitable donations to distribute for charitable purposes in support of the Urban Search and Rescue Program. Accepts donations via check, PayPal, and Venmo.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) is a FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue Response System task force that delivers deployable US&R services for structural collapse, natural disasters, and man-made emergencies. The organization fields Type I (70-member) and Type III task force configurations, specialized canine search teams (live find and human remains detection), emergency medical care, hazardous materials response, water rescue, utility shut-off, and structural stabilization. The team deploys with 100,000 pounds of equipment, is self-sufficient for 72 hours, and can be mobilized within 6 hours.

Product overview

CA-TF3 is a FEMA National Urban Search and Rescue Response System task force that operates as a single, unified emergency response service rather than a platform with modules. The core offering is Urban Search and Rescue Operations, which includes Type I and Type III US&R Task Force configurations, Canine Search Teams, and specialized rescue capabilities (water rescue, hazmat, medical). The California Task Force 3 Foundation serves as a sub-brand for charitable fundraising and donation support. The team consists of 210+ members, responds with 100,000 pounds of equipment, and is self-sufficient for 72 hours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Search and Rescue Operations (Type I US&R Task Force) Deployable urban search and rescue task force comprising 70 specialized members configured for structural collapse rescue, physical search and rescue operations in damaged/collapsed structures, emergency medical care, hazardous materials response, water rescue, reconnaissance and damage assessment, utility shut-off, and structural stabilization (shoring and cribbing). Self-sufficient for 72 hours and equipped with 100,000 pounds of prepackaged search, rescue, and medical equipment. Provided to FEMA and Cal OES for federal and state disaster activations.
• Type III US&R Task Force Configuration Lighter US&R task force configuration designed for searching lighter construction typically encountered in weather-related events such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Used for state mutual aid and Cal OES Type 3 responses.
• Canine Search Teams (Live Find and Human Remains Detection) Specialized canine teams trained for live find and human remains detection (HRD) operations during disaster response. Canines are obtained from the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation and operate as part of CA-TF3's deployable capability alongside handlers, spotters, and medics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 members per Type I task force configuration specializing in search, rescue, medicine, hazardous materials, logistics and planning

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Disaster Search Dog FoundationcoreOthersCA-TF3 obtains canines from the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. The foundation provides canines for the task force's canine search teams, which are essential for live find and human remains detection (HRD) operations during disaster response.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Nevada Task Force 1: FEMA US&R Task Force serving the Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas; configured as a Type I task force with the same FEMA funding construct and 70+ member deployment model.
• Massachusetts Task Force 1: FEMA US&R Task Force serving New England; structurally comparable FEMA-funded task force with similar canine, medical, and structural specialist composition to CA-TF3.
• Texas Task Force 1: One of the largest FEMA National US&R Task Forces; deploys nationally and internationally for structural collapse, water rescue, and disaster response with a similarly configured Type I task force and 70+ member roster. Direct peer as the leading comparable FEMA US&R unit to CA-TF3.
• New York Task Force 1: FEMA US&R Task Force operating under FDNY sponsorship; deployed to World Trade Center and numerous disasters. Direct peer with comparable Type I structural collapse capability and federal-state cooperative funding model.
• Florida Task Force 1: FEMA US&R Task Force sponsored by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue; operates Type I configuration and routinely responds to hurricanes and structural collapses with comparable capability scope and FEMA cooperative funding structure.
• Washington Task Force 1: FEMA US&R Task Force serving the Pacific Northwest; deploys for earthquakes, structural collapse, and weather disasters under the same FEMA National US&R Response System framework as CA-TF3.
• Virginia Task Force 1: FEMA US&R Task Force based in the National Capital Region; deploys for structural collapse, water rescue, and hazmat incidents under the same FEMA Cooperative Agreement framework as CA-TF3 with similar 6-hour deploy and 72-hour self-sufficiency profile.
• California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1): Sister California FEMA US&R Task Force; most geographically comparable peer, operating under identical Cal OES and FEMA oversight with overlapping state-level mutual aid responsibilities.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue: Large metropolitan fire agency operating a heavy US&R capability with international deployment experience; broader fire-protection portfolio but overlaps CA-TF3 on US&R mission scope and California disaster response.

Others

• National Disaster Search Dog Foundation: CA-TF3's named canine supplier and core strategic partner; trains and places disaster search dogs to FEMA US&R task forces, making it the closest ecosystem enabler to CA-TF3's canine search capability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/catf_3
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CA-TF3
• Facebookfacebook.com/californiataskforce3
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-task-force-3-us-r
• Instagraminstagram.com/catf3foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Task Force 3, US&R